The Boko Haram terrorist group is suspected of being responsible for an attack on a village in Borno State, which killed nothing less than 20 civilians.
According to military officials and eyewitnesses, the victims in Dawashe village in the state were killed on Saturday by suspected Boko Haram members in what appears to be a reprisal mission.
In a statement on Sunday, the spokesman for the Multinational Joint Task Force, Lt. Haruna Sani, said no fewer than 20 civilians died during an attack by the terrorist sect, in what appeared to be a reprisal on Dawashe Village on Saturday.
Sani said the members of the Civilian JTF had earlier stormed the town and arrested some members of the sect, a development the violent sect blamed on the complicity of the residents.
Sani said, “A group of Civilian Joint Task Force from Maiduguri stormed Dawashe village in search of Boko Haram members when the suspected sect members came armed and fired sporadic shots that killed over 20 innocent civilians while a dozen sustained serious gunshot injuries.
“The victims are mostly fishermen and traders who pursue their legitimate business in the area.
“As of the time of compiling this report, the victims were still lying within the premises of MNJTF Field Ambulance, receiving medical treatment from the injuries sustained during the attack.
“As part of the excellent Civil Military Relations and humanitarian gesture demonstrated by MNJTF, a dozen of Boko Haram victims affected by the attack in Dawashe District of Kukawa Local Government Borno State got medical treatment in the Headquarters Field Ambulance in Baga.
“Meanwhile, heavily armed Quick Reaction Group from MNJTF had been deployed in the area to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents. The general area of Dawashe, Daban Masara and Malan Karanti are known to be suspected Boko Haram (enclave).”
In another confrontation, five members of the Borno State Volunteer Vigilante Group, also known as Civilian Joint Task Force, were killed in Ajilari, Ngomari and Bulukumtu in the state, according to the Associated Press.
One of the members of the volunteers, Aliko Musa, said, “It was a huge loss to us; five of our brave minds were killed yesterday (Saturday) by the outlawed Boko Haram. They paid the supreme price when we visited Mainok Village in search of the terrorists and we shall not relent.”
Spokesman for the JTF, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, however, faulted the number of casualties on the part of the youth volunteers.
Musa, however, confirmed the Mainok attack, adding that one of the youths died while one others sustained injuries.