THERE appears to be no respite in the orgy of violence by Boko Haram insurgents as gunmen suspected to be members of the sect in a convoy of 11 Toyota Hilux vehicles and motorcycles laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol bombs, attacked Buni/Yadi, headquarters of Gujba Council of Yobe State, in the early hours of yesterday, killing nine people. They also torched several houses and shops.

A detachment of soldiers with Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) and a fighter jet of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were also sighted by surviving residents who fled to Damaturu for safety.

Hamidu Isa, a pickup van driver, who plies the 54-kilometre Damaturu-Buni/Yadi road, also told The Guardian on phone that the insurgents burst into the town and set ablaze houses and shops, after killing nine residents who attempted to protect their houses from being torched.

“It was God that saved my life with my rickety pickup van because the gunmen stormed the town when I was departing to Damaturu to transport and deliver firewood and charcoal. They used explosives and petrol bombs in burning some of our houses here in Buni/Yadi.

“These gunmen have been attacking us severally with the torching of our property for the last two years. And yesterday, they also burst into the town with explosives and killed our people,” lamented Isa.

The Yobe State Police Command confirmed the incident yesterday.

“The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday (yesterday), and as soon as we collate the total number of casualties from our Division Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Buni/Yadi, you will be briefed,” said the police source, who was not authorised to speak on the incident.

There has been a gradual upsurge in Boko Haram attacks since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office on May 29. He had vowed to crush the insurgents during in inaugural speech.