29 killed as JTF battles insurgents in Borno

[PeoplesDaily]

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

At least 29 persons comprising suspected Boko Haram insurgents and some civilians were killed at the weekend when operatives of the Joint Military Task Force, (JTF) had an encounter with different groups of gunmen in two areas of Maiduguri metropolis, the Borno state capital, witnesses told newsmen yesterday.

The incidents which reportedly occurred on Friday evening led to the death of 16 suspected insurgents after a gun- duel with security forces, while 13 civilians were also killed by the insurgents for allegedly exposing the hide-out of their colleagues.

The first incident occurred when eight Boko Haram gunmen who were reportedly on a revenge mission raided the Hausari word, shooting sporadically into the crowd and killed 13 civilians and wounded several others.

Among those killed were a middle- aged woman popularly known as Hajia Ummu and her 70- year -old mother.

"The Boko Haram gunmen had beaten several security check posts, upon driving in a Hilux van, pretending to be mourners on a funeral procession and hid their arms in a coffin covered with white shroud. On reaching to the Shehu street, in Hausari Ward, they immediately brought out guns from the coffin and began shooting sporadically; they continued shooting until they ran out of ammunition.

"When the invaders exhausted their ammunition, they attempted fleeing but were immediately rounded up and arrested by some courageous youths before handing them over to the soldiers, who shot them dead as they attempted to escape" an eyewitness who declined identification said.

The other incident, occured late evening along Biu road bridge when eight suspected insurgents were killed on the spot during a shoot -out with JTF personnel.

Our correspondent who visited the scene saw decomposing corpses of the suspects, dumped in a ditch behind the Biu road bridge.

Among the eight corpses were three teenagers who were allegedly arrested with arms earlier on Thursday and subsquently led the JTF operatives to the hide-outs of five others.

On sighting the security forces, insurgents had reportedly attempted to resist arrest and fired sporadic shots in the direction of the soldiers, leading to a fierce gun battle, with the gunnen killed and their corpses dumped inside the ditch. Spokesnan for the JTF, Lt-Col. Sagir Musa, could not be reached for comment as at press time.

Meanwhile, young men in various areas of Maiduguri metropolis have formed a vigilante groups who patrol streets of their respective wards, hunting suspected Boko Haram members.

The youth who are popularly referred as 'civilian JTF', have reportedly resolved complementing the efforts of the security agents in the fight against the insurgents, apparently to express their total support in the crusade.

The youth have equally engaged in assisting the security forces with the clues on the hide-outs of the suspected insurgents.

The post 29 killed as JTF battles insurgents in Borno appeared first on Peoples Daily Newspaper, Nigeria.

Peoples Daily Newspaper

[Folami David]

People just keep dying nowadays in Nigeria. Imagine 29 people dying in just one day. That is not fair at all....