By Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz
Yola
At least five persons were feared dead in a fresh attack by Boko Haram insurgents in Wuna village in the Madagali local government area of Adamawa state, locals and security sources have said.
The sources said scores of fighters had stormed the village from around Gulak, the administrative headquarters of Madagali, for the attack.
“They came in numbers and just started shooting sporadically into the air; and there was pandemonium as people started fleeing for their lives,” a fleeing resident said.
“They held sway for almost an hour during which they killed over five people, burning houses, stealing foodstuff and carted away domestic animals. Presently, we are hiding somewhere in a nearby village for security reasons,” a fleeing resident, who craved anonymity, said.
Another said: “They were on rampage to steal food and medical supplies; even last two days they raided a nearby village, Humbli, and many others. There is tension everywhere and people have started fleeing.’’
Confirming the attack, the Chairman of Madagali local government council, Yusuf Muhammad, said the incident lasted for one hour on Wednesday night.
He said he could not give the casualty figures, added that the insurgents burnt many houses and looted foodstuff.
Spokesperson of the 28 Task Force Battalion, Mubi, Major Akintoye Badare, could not be reached as at the time of filing in this report, but a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Adamu Kamale, alleged that “President Muhammadu Buhari is being fed with the wrong information on the capacity of Boko Haram in our areas as they still carry out deadly strikes.”
“They have attacked Wuna late night and the recent attacks indicate that the group is still able to carry out major attacks and has not been defeated, despite the successes achieved by Nigerian soldiers in the war.
“The communities in the local governments are a stone throw away from the boundary of the Sambisa Forest, the insurgents’ safe haven, from where they launch attacks on us,” he said.
Kamale, in a telephone chat yesterday, noted that while the military continued to make claims of ‘decimating’ the insurgents, the situation in Madagali had been “grossly under-reported.”
“We urge Mr. President to match words with actions because the insurgents are truly killing more people than he is even aware of, particularly in Michika and Madagali local government areas of Adamawa state.”
