• As two boys escape from B’Haram in Borno
It was another mourning day in the Gwon community of Rim District of Riyom Local Council of Plateau State after gunmen killed two preachers after a church service on Sunday, July 13.

National President of Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYMA), Solomon Dalyop, who confirmed the attack to journalists yesterday in Jos, said the victims were members of an evangelism team, who were preaching the gospel around the community when they were killed.

Dalyop said in the course of their preaching, the militia appeared from the nearby rocks and opened fire on them, killing the two instantly.

He added that the gunmen went into the village shooting sporadically until the military task force and vigilantes repelled them, and subsequently, retreated to the hills.

The BYMA leader, who condemned the attacks, called on the government and relevant security operatives to take immediate action to protect the people of Riyom, as they have been at the receiving end of attacks for many years.

He also expressed the frustration of the people of the council with the porous security situation, which the assailants take advantage of to attack them with impunity.

Narrating how the attack took place, Dalyop said immediately the assailants stormed the community, they opened fire indiscriminately, forcing the residents to scamper for safety.

He added that while the community gathered later in the day to bury the deceased, there was another attack in the neighbouring Bachit community, where a man was also shot dead.

RELATEDLY, two boys, aged 13 and 12, who were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists three years ago in Borno State, have escaped captivity and returned safely to Maiduguri.

Ayuba Ishaku and Yakubu Haruna, both natives of Mandaragrau village in the Biu council area of the state, arrived at the Ite Divisional Police Headquarters around 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 11, where they narrated their ordeal and dramatic escape.

According to a post yesterday by security expert, Zagazola Makama, on his X handle, the boys were kidnapped along with their parents from their village.

While their parents were later released by the roadside, after being deemed too weak to continue the journey, the boys were taken deeper into the terrorist-controlled territory.

They were transported, along with seven unknown adult captives to a Boko Haram hideout in Mangari, Tumbun Mota, an area in Baga, Kukawa council area.

The seven adults were reportedly trained, armed, and deployed in combat operations by fighters affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The boys revealed that they were used as domestic servants and trained to service firearms, although they were not involved in actual combat.

The Borno State Police Command confirmed the development, explaining that the teenagers had been thoroughly debriefed.