Boko Haram kill five, steal 120 cows in fresh Borno attacks

Military arrests four terrorists in Yobe

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents, in a convoy of armed motorcycles, have attacked Dagu village in Askira/Uba Local Council of Borno State, killing five persons and rustling 120 cattle in the process.

The leader of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), Papka Madu, who confirmed the development to The Guardian yesterday in a telephone chat, said communications had been disrupted in the community following the destruction of the telecommunications masts in Dagu-Kilikasha axis of the council area.

He narrated that the terrorists invaded the settlement from the south flank of Sambisa Forest, before stealing 120 cows from two herdsmen.

His words: “The armed insurgents burst into the remote village of Dagu near Kilikasha in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno and killed three family members and two herdsmen.”

On the casualty figure, he said: “We lost three of our members (local vigilantes) and two herdsmen on Sunday afternoon, after the terrorists attacked Dagu village. Over 120 cows have also been stolen from deceased herdsmen. Their bodies were buried on Monday morning, before you called this morning on Dagu attack and rustling.

“Our appeal to villagers and members of the public was not to buy cows from the suspected Boko Haram insurgents.”

In the meantime, the troops of 233 Battalion, 27 Task Force Brigade of Operation Lafiya Dole, in collaboration with the local vigilance group, have arrested four fleeing insurgents while patrolling the outskirts of Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.

The arrests, according to military authorities, were made in two villages of Kurnari and Nayinawa. The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig-Gen. Sani Usman, confirmed the incident in a statement yesterday.

It reads: “The escaping Boko Haram terrorists, Bukar Waziri, 25 and Mammade Lawan, 20, are from Buk, while father and son, Muhammadu Damina, 40 and Isah 15, were from Talala village.

“During preliminary investigation, they claimed that they were fleeing from the terrorists’ hideout at Talala and Buk in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State because of the unbearable military onslaughts and bombardments on their various locations.”

He also confirmed the arrest of a robbery suspect, Salisu Ibrahim, by officers of the 33 Brigade during an operation, tagged FOREST KUNAMA II, along the Bauchi-Gombe road.

Usman said the arrested terrorists and robbery suspect were undergoing further interrogation.