Boko Haram attacks Borno community, burns district head’s palace

Armed Boko Haram terrorists launched a fresh attack on Kirawa, a border town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, late Monday night, leaving one resident dead and another abducted.

The insurgents, who stormed the community near the Cameroon border, also set several houses ablaze, including the palace of the District Head, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abubakar. Shops and other structures were also destroyed during the raid.

According to eyewitnesses, many residents fled into neighboring Cameroonian villages to escape the violence. They praised the swift response of members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and local hunters, who confronted the attackers and succeeded in killing one of them, helping to repel the assault before it escalated further.

Earlier, Kirawa had a Camerounian Military Base, but they were dislodged during an attack few months ago.

Just three days ago, some terrorists laid ambush along the Kirawa-Pulka road and killed one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force after setting six vehicles ablaze.

Confirming the incident on Tuesday, Senator representing the area (Southern Borno), Ali Ndume said, “The renewed Boko Haram attacks in Kirawa and other communities have become a source of concern and frustrating, as many resilient Internally Displaced Persons have returned to their ancestral homes that were facilitated and supported by Governor Babagana Zulum.”

While commending efforts of the Nigerian troops in the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP in the North East, Senator Ndume, a former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, appealed to the military authorities to “deploy more troops and or platoons in the affected areas of Kirawa, Ngoshe, Agapalwa, Chikide among other vulnerable communities.”

He also reiterated his call on the federal government and the Nigerian Military to deploy drones, attack helicopters, as well as use technology, equipment, arms and ammunition, motivation (TEAAM), which is the only way to end the over-decade Boko Haram atrocities in Borno, North East and other parts of the country.