The respite in terrorism activities in Borno State was shattered over the Eid-el-Fitr weekend was 63 people were killed in two deadly strikes by the dreaded Boko Haram terrorist group in the towns of Ngom and Konduga in Mafa and Konduga Local Government Areas of the state respectively.
It was learnt that the terrorists struck Ngom in Mafa Local Government Area on Saturday, killing 12 persons.
They then attacked Konduga, a town about 30 kilometres from the state capital, Maiduguri, on Sunday morning at dawn between 4 am and 5 am during the morning prayers (Asuba) killing about 50 persons.
Mallam Bukar Konduga, a resident of Damboa road in Maiduguri told this correspondent that one of his relations who ran away from the local government informed him that the gunmen came wearing army uniform and opened fire on the worshippers, killing no fewer than 50 people.
Some hospital officials from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) also informed our correspondent that they could not receive corpses from Konduga as their morgue is overstrectched but that they received 26 injured persons, who were victims of the Konduga attacks and they are currently receiving treatment at the UMTH.
The member representing Konduga state constituency at the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori told newsmen at the Government House in Maiduguri that he received the news of attacks in both Ngom and Konduga with shock particularly now that peace seemed to be returning to the state.
According to him, “I cannot tell you the actual figure with regard to casualty but from what I heard, over 50 people have been killed. Those who were injured have been taken to the hospital (UMTH) to be specific, for treatment.”
It was also gathered that 12 persons who were earlier killed by the insurgents in Ngom town of Mafa Local Government Area of the state were killed shortly after the youth volunteer group with some men of the joint task force stormed the town in search of the Boko Haram insurgents.
For now, there was no confirmation from security operatives on the killings, but it was learnt that the state governor Kashim Shettima was deeply touched and is visiting the area tomorrow to sympathise with the people.
There have been no official statements yet on the incidents either from the Joint Task Force (JTF) or the police at press time, due to the Sallah break and lack of communication in the state.
Suspected Boko Haram members had in the past launched attacks and killed many villagers whom they accused of being informants to security agencies and youth vigilante groups hunting for insurgents.
About 45 people were killed in two separate villages in the state in July.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, in an Eid-ul-Fitr Sallah message to his followers through video clip on Youtube monitored in Maiduguri, yesterday denied that he was killed.
He also said none of his group’s weapons and ammunition was seized by any military operative. He rather claimed that it was the JTF’s equipment and facilities that the Boko Haram insurgents seized from them during their encounters.
Shekau, who is Nigeria’s most wanted man, further insisted that the group will not accept the killing of their members in Bama, Gwoza, Malam Fatori, Damaturu, Gamboru and other places.
He said, “All killings are for the sake of Islam. Killing is allowed but we don’t kill children, Christians, old people, the physically challenged and females or women. We only kill the adults and young that refuse to accept Boko Haram.”
He swore that the group will continue to terrorise the country not only in the north or Borno State. “We are ever prepared to face the war. A lot has been said against us: that we are finished, they have finished with us. All these are lies. We are alive. Nobody killed us. And we shall continue to kill until Boko Haram is accepted by the people. So whether they tell you the truth or not, the truth will soon reveal itself as we are pursuing the course of God, not committing crime,” he said. “So, whoever says what we are doing is un-Islamic, let him or her wait for Allah’s judgement. God sees us and knows whatever we are doing. It is too late for Nigeria as a country to face us. We have people behind us supporting and our crusade.”
He laughed before continuing, “We are on the right path pursuing the right thing, not idol worshippers or otherwise and we shall continue to do that for the sake of our religion.”