9 dead, scores hurt as Boko Haram raid churches in Borno

Members of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram reportedly attacked Chinene village of Chikide- Joghode- Kaghum ward of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, shooting sporadically, at least nine persons were killed, several others were left hurt. The insurgents were also said to have set ablaze churches and residential houses in the community, thereafter they hoisted their flags on some structures in Ashigashiya ward of Gwoza local government, depicting their conquest. According to reports from PUNCH, many have been forced to take refuge in bushes and surrounding hills. "A local government official, Nglamuda Ibrahim, who spoke to journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, said many of his extended families and friends, displaced in the latest attack have been calling for assistance since Monday night. He said the people are living in perpetual fear as some of them who had taken refuge on the hills claimed that there may be another attack having seen some of the insurgents in the area. Ibrahim said, “As we speak now, I am still receiving distress calls from them, they were all crying and calling for help; no soldier or police officer has gone there yet.” “The Boko Haram gunmen mounted their flags in Ashigashiya which depicted that it is now under their domain. “In last night’s attack, six churches were burnt, eight persons were killed and several others seriously injured. We cannot count the number of houses that were burnt in Chinene village of Chikide-Joghode- Kaghum ward. “They also attacked Amuda village where one person was killed and several others injured.” He said from the SOS call from his people, they are living in fear that they may be picked out for attack by the insurgents. Ibrahim said some of them told me that the insurgents were perfecting strategies to kill them. He said, “Currently, as I am talking to you now, the insurgents have mobilised at Izhaghathagwa mountain, planning on how to finish (kill) our people; that is why they have been calling for help.” He listed the names of some of those killed in Chinene village as Bulama Dajiba, Bulama John, Haruna Wadda, Bitrus Kurma, Haruna Kwatha, Haruna Waruda, and Shaibu Galva. He said, “We are calling on the military authorities in the state to quickly go up there and help us rescue those poor villagers, their wives and children before the gunmen carry out their threat. “We have a detachment of soldiers that were deployed to Gwoza but none of them care to go behind the mountains, even though everyone hears the sound of the shootings there.” A top security officer, who does not want his name mentioned, confirmed the incident to journalists in Maiduguri. He said, “We all have received the report from Chinene village. It was really another sad episode there and we learnt that the insurgents hoisted their flag in Ashigashiya.” The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin, could not be reached as all his telephones were switched off. A top police source confirmed the deadly attacks in Chinene, confirming that nine persons lost their lives in the attack."[Today]