Hours after the Borno State Government spearheaded a meeting where repentant insurgents were forgiven, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has launched a deadly attack on Rann, where an unconfirmed number of persons are feared killed.
The killings occurred as troops of Operation Hadin Kai stationed in the community were dislodged on Sunday night, SaharaReporters reported, quoting unnamed military sources.
The headquarters of Kala Balge Local Government Area, Rann has witnessed many attacks from insurgents in the course of the 12-year insurgency in the North-East.
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It was learnt that some residents escaped the latest attack but an unconfirmed number fell into the hands of the insurgents.
“They stormed the town around 10 pm last night and was in charge till 6 am this morning; many people including military operatives were killed by the terrorists, we can’t ascertain the number of casualties now,” the source reportedly said.
However, military authorities have yet to confirm the attack.
In Sunday’s stakeholders meeting, community leaders signed off on the return of repentant Boko Haram members to their communities.
Governor Babagana Zulum, who led the meeting, said that 3,000 persons who were members of the armed opposition group have laid down their arms and surrendered to the Nigerian military.
The governor further disclosed that apart from the 3,000 ex-terrorists currently in the custody of the government, another 900 confirmed members of Boko Haram have surrendered to the Cameroonian forces.
Zulum said the stakeholders meeting became necessary following the mixed reactions that recently trailed the mass surrender of former Boko Haram fighters.
He said the government needed to involve all stakeholders in Borno in the decision-making process on how to deal with the repentant insurgents.