At least, two local government areas of Borno state in the northern part of the state –Gubio and Magumeri– were invaded and presently occupied by the Boko Haram terrorists.
The insurgents who stormed the communities in the wee hours of Wednesday in droves, launched coordinated attacks on the communities.
The development has forced the displaced persons to move to Maiduguri for safety, thus increasing the IDPs’ challenge in the capital city.
But the army said troops had repelled the attacks.
Residents
However, residents of the affected areas said “the attacks continued through the early hours of Thursday without a counter from the military and the local vigilante groups.”
Sources further said both Gubio and Magumeri local governments presently have no military presence as troops were withdrawn recently for routine operational changes as enshrined in the rules of engagement which the insurgents took advantage of to invade the areas.
Our correspondent gathered that hundreds of thousands of residents were displaced since Wednesday, as they dispersed into bushes and nearby communities with several others taken as hostages by the Boko Haram fighters.
Gubio and Maguneri towns both serve as headquarters of the local governments with a distance of 30 km and 80 km respectively from Maiduguri city.
In Gubio, it was gathered that the insurgents came shooting sporadically, and chanting Allahu Akbar, meaning God is Great, scaring people and creating tension and confusion among residents.
The situation led to the killing of scores of residents while others sustained various degrees of injuries, as some houses and other buildings were ransacked and set ablaze by the hoodlums.
Gubio council chair spoke
Confirming the development to newsmen on telephone, chairman, caretaker committee, Gubio local government council, Zanna Modu Gubio said, “The insurgents stormed Gubio town at about 6pm, performed their Maghrib prayer at about 6:30 pm with the residents of Gubio town freely and comfortably.”
“Later after the Maghrib prayer, the Boko Haram terrorists instantly started to wreck havoc on the innocent residents who are peacefully going about their normal businesses and managing their life quietly, observing their daily petty businesses while others were going to farm.
“Then people started hearing gunshots sporadically from everywhere as if they circled the town and positioned themselves in strategic positions within the town and continued to wreck havoc on the people, causing confusion and raising tension as they also started setting houses and public structures ablaze.”
The council boss , who spoke in Maiduguri during the attack said, “It is unfortunate that this is coming again just after a week when the same insurgents attempted to invade Gubio town but were repelled by the military troops of the Gubio battalion command last Saturday night for almost 7 hours of exchange of gunfire between the BHTs and soldiers on Eid-el-Kabir eve “This was also a deadly attack which took place in Gubio town that led to the withdrawal of the troops in the area.
“Now, just look at it again that another set of armed Boko Haram group stormed Gubio town Wednesday evening at about 6 pm even performed their Maghrib prayer at about 6:30 pm together with the residents in the Gubio Central Mosque before wrecking havoc on the innocent civilians and also setting houses and other public buildings on fire, burning places.
“I am presently in Maiduguri for the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed state commissioners and all of a sudden, I started receiving distress calls that my people are under Boko Haram attack.
“Although, I cannot give you the actual number of casualties for now, but from all indications and the reports I have so far, the Boko Haram insurgents have taken over Gubio town. It is said that they were just shooting at sight and burning houses and other buildings without any confrontation from security operatives or CJTF and vigilante hunters,” Zanna further said.
Similarly, it was reported that in Magumeri, some 50 kilometres from Gubio, another set of insurgents attacked residents of the area.
It was gathered that besides razing the houses, they also burnt down the council secretariat and houses of member of House of Representatives of Gubio, Magumeri and Kaga Federal Constituency, Hon. Usman Zannah,a former commissioner in the immediate past administration.
Speaking to newsmen on phone Thursday morning, Hon. Zannah confirmed the attacks and said, “Two local government areas of gubio and Magumeri where I hail from have been overran by the Boko Haram.
“As I speak with you now, all good houses in Gubio and Magumeri towns have been set ablaze, including my house and the council secretariat. My people have been displaced, and there is nothing we can do than to bring survivors into Maiduguri.
“It is unfortunate that the insurgents took advantage of troops withdrawal from the affected areas and wrecked havoc without confrontation.”
Meanwhile, efforts to get the chairman of Borno State Emergency Agency, Hajiya Yabawa Kolo on phone to confirm casualties and the state government’s plans to tackle the emergencies proved abortive.
Our correspondent observed that the present situation won’t allow for donor partners to handle the large number of the displaced people in Maiduguri which has become a safe haven for the displaced people from over 20 LGAs since 2014 to date.
Both the federal and state governments are pursuing reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement processes of the millions of IDPs across the state under the post-insurgency peace building agenda.
Survivors storm Maiduguri
Meanwhile, survivors of the attacks, particularly from Magumeri, which is a bit closer to the capital city, Thursday arrived Maiduguri to swell up the IDPs’ camp.
Blueprint however gathered that they were barred from coming into town for a moment “to allow for adequate arrangement for their accommodation. But some of them had started calling their relations in Maiduguri to come and pick them.”
Army reacts
Meanwhile, the army has said it repelled the attacks by the insurgents.
A statement Thursday by Deputy Director Army Public Relations 7 Division Col. Ado Isa reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Army in the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole has been drawn to reports on various media platforms indicating attack on Gubio and Magumeri communities in Borno State at about 1735hrs of Wednesday the 21st of August, 2019.
“To avoid further misinformation that could create unnecessary tension, the Theatre Command wishes to state that the attack was targeted at Nigerian Army troops deployed in the areas to enable the terrorists gain access shops in the market in the towns to loot food items and other logistics. The attack was however repelled by the troops.
“Consequently, due to fierce exchange of fire, the terrorists were forced to withdraw in disarray from the town resulting to damages on buildings and property along their route of withdrawal.
“There were no casualty on the security force (troops) and no lost or damage to own equipment as wrongly insinuated on social media. However, a vigilante sadly lost his life in a cross fire. Also some civilians in the area reportedly sustained various degrees of injuries.
“Peace has so far been restored in the communities with residents going about their lawful businesses.
“The Nigerian Army once again call on all well meaning members of the public to collaborate with the military and other security agencies in the area of sharing of information and suspicious movement of criminals in their communities to proactively deal with criminal activities.”
