Suspected members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect backed by foreign
mercenaries have attacked Damboa in Borno State killing 11 persons.
It was gathered in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital Friday that the
Arab-speaking mercenaries, believed to be Chadians stormed the already
deserted Damboa on Thursday night laying siege on the town before
launching a massive attack.
Speaking on the attack to journalists in Maiduguri yesterday, a top
security source who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorized to
speak confirmed the incident, claiming 11 civilians lost their lives.
"More troops have been dispatched to the area to confront the
insurgents. We gathered that they sneaked out of Damboa towards the bush
part leading into Yobe and Gombe States. For sure, they will not
escape," he said.
Sources revealed to journalists that the insurgents during the attack
also destroyed more than half of the business premises and shops in the
village even though they reportedly faced stiff resistance from Borno
youth volunteer vigilante groups (civilian JTF)who also killed one of
the insurgents, injured many and captured one alive.
A resident of Damboa who was compelled to flee the town to Maiduguri
said the assailants, numbering about 50 attacked the town in a convoy of
nine Golf salon cars and motorcycles.
He said there was heavy gunfire from the insurgents who also targeted
police and military formations, which forced the residents to vacate
their houses and to nearby farms and bushes.
"The attackers arrived Damboa around 8pm and laid siege till around
12am. They divided themselves into three groups. One of the groups
confronted the police, the other confronted the military and the third
group waylaid the civilian population and burnt many houses," the
fleeing resident said.
He added that: "The good news is that the youth vigilantes defied the
superior power of the attackers because they confronted them squarely.
Though what the youth had were daggers, knives and machetes, but they
were well charmed up as the gun bullets could not penetrate most of
them."
Another witness said there are aliens among the attackers. "They spoke
Arabic fluently and they came with sophisticated guns and improvised
explosive devices (IEDs). They threw many of the explosives into shops
and buildings," he said.
Member representing Damboa in the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon.
Ayamu Lawan Gwasha, told journalists in Maiduguri yesterday that his
people "are under siege".were also alerted. I think this has helped in
reducing the magnitude of the attack," he said.
Spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt Colonel Sagir Musa could
not however be reached for comment as at the time of filing this report
last night.
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