▪︎▪︎▪︎How 65 People Were Killed In Darajamal
▪︎▪︎▪︎As Air Force Jets Neutralize 38 Terrorists ▪︎▪︎▪︎Gov Zulum Promises to stand up to the situation.
By: Special Correspondent.
It is no longer news that there is a resurgence of terrorist attacks on soft spots across Borno state.
These attacks come in the face of alarms, sounded by Borno state Governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.
Hardly does a week pass without incidents reported, from Chibok, through Gwoza, Ngoshe, Damboa, Marte, or Konduga.
And so, it was a tale of death blood tears, fears, and confusion when Boko Haram insurgents sneaked in on Darajamal, a sleepy town in Bama Local Government Area of Borno state last Friday.
The villagers were awaken to the sounds of sparodic gun shots, followed by cries of anguish amidst shouts of Allahu Akbar, as the dare devil gunmen came attacking.
Not even the presence of soldiers posted to the community could deter them.
Security operatives were generally caught off guard, and even when they tried to respond, they were so few in number and their firepower limited, compared to that of the marauding Boko Haram elements.
The town was completely overwhelmed, and at the last count, 5 soldiers and 65 civilians lay dead: murdered in the ensuing confusion.
Before day break, the attackers had fizzled out of the town, leaving behind corpses for the locals to mourn and bury.
But as they were settling down to celeberate their victory over Darajamal attack, Air Force fighter jets belonging to the Nigerian Air Force and ground troops had mobilized for a counter offenssive, which led to the death of over 30 of the terrorists, in what has been described as a coordinated and retaliatory attack.
The attack came just as the town which was sacked by the terrorists a few years back, was beginning to readjust to normal life, having been returned and resettled by the Borno state Government recently.
Some of the returnees had hardly settled in their new houses provided by the Borno state government before they were forced to flee, to nowhere in particular.
Some of them who managed to reach Bama, told National Trail, that, the terrorists who came in their numbers shot at fleeing villagers and setting their houses ablaze, as soldiers tried their best to respond, in the process of which they brought down a few of the terrorists, but lost 5 of their own men.
Borno state Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, had to abandon all other engagements and rushed down to Darajamal, to empathize with residents, to acertain the level of devastation and assist the families.
Governor Zulum who was visibly disturbed told the frightened villagers that they should be resilient, as the government will always be there for them.
He described as barbaric and inhuman the activities of Boko insurgents in recent times, even as he promised to put in place extra security measures to curb the menace.
Zulum promised to deploy the newly trained Forest Guards, so as to complement the efforts of the Military and other security agencies.
Also worried was the Member representing Bama, Ngala and Kalabalge state constituency, Zainab Gimba, who spoke to our correspondent condemning the attack and called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts in ensuring that citizens feel safet and their security guaranteed.
She lamented a situation where victims of the Darajamal attack were only recently resettled, before their hopes were again shattered.
The Senator representing Southern Borno, Mohammed Ali Ndume has bern vehement in condemning the attack and the resurgence of Boko Haram activities recently.
Ndume, whose hometown, Gwoza also came under attacks recently, said, Nigerian government should stop paying lip service to the Boko Haram issue, and take ruthless and drastic steps towards eliminating the terrorists.
According to Ndume, it is ironical that, at a time government claims to have deescalated Boko Haram, they are becoming more daring in Borno and citizens are being traumatised daily.
He called for a possible resort to external help if the military proves incapable.
While sympathising with the Government of Borno state and the people of Gwoza and Darajamal, who were the latest victims, Ndume called on the people to increase their level of vigilance and to remain reisilent in the face of the renewed attacks.