Boko Haram Kills 20, Burns Schools, Churches In Southern Borno

Boko Haram Kills 20, Burns Schools,
Churches In Southern Borno
In what appeared to be a renewed onslaught
by the Boko Haram against hapless
civilians, the insurgents, between
Wednesday and Thursday attacked two
communities of Hawul local government
area of Borno State, killing 20 persons,
among whom was a pastor, sources said.
The pastor, Eliud Gwamna Mshelizza, was a
branch head of the Living Faith Church in
Marama town of the same local
government.
Also among those killed was a school
teacher, (name undisclosed).
Eyewitnesses in the attacked villages
narrated that the Boko Haram insurgents
invaded Shaffa and Shindiffu towns at about
8pm and proceeded to wreak havoc in the
towns until 11am Thusday.
LEADERSHIP Friday learnt that the
insurgents, who attacked Shaffa town first,
were forced to flee by soldiers and on their
way, stopped at and attacked the residents
of Shindiffu Village.
“They burnt houses and all the churches in
Shindiffu, including our schools,” said a
displaced resident, Amos Buba.
“They also burnt down Government Girls
Secondary School, Shaffa, the clinic, the
staff quarters and many houses,” he said.
Mr Ibrahim Gwamna Mshelizza, the slain
pastor’s elder brother confirmed the incident
when he spoke to journalists in Maiduguri by
phone.
However, soldiers of the Nigerian Army
deployed from Biu town in Borno State and
others from Adamawa State were able to
intercept the attacking insurgents while on
their way to Turaku village, another
Christian-dominated community.
The soldiers engaged the sect members and
killed several of them.
Sources said that as the insurgents were
about to complete their mission in Shaffa, a
deployment of troops arrived the town,
causing the them to flee to Shindiffu, a
nearby village.
Also confirming the incident, a top military
source who did not want to be named as he
was not authorised to talk to the press said,
“Our men from Adamawa and Biu axis
repelled the attacks on Shaffa, Shindiffu and
Turaku villages. Over 100 of the terrorists
were killed, while several arms and
ammunition were also recovered in the
encounter.”
Police public relations officer, Gideon Jubrin,
told journalists by phone that he could not
give details of casualties on both sides,
because telecommunication networks in the
area were shut down after the attacks.