No fewer than 20 civilians were killed
in an attack by suspected Boko Haram members on Saturday in Dawashe, a
village in Borno State, military officials and eyewitnesses said.
In another confrontation, five members
of young volunteers, known as Civilian Joint Task Force, were killed in
Ajilari, Ngomari and Bulukumtu in the state, according to the Associated Press.
In a statement on Sunday, the spokesman
for the Multinational Joint Task Force, Lt. Haruna Sani, said no fewer
than 20 civilians died during an attack by the terrorist sect, in what
appeared to be a reprisal on Dawashe Village on Saturday.
Sani said the members of the Civilian
JTF had earlier stormed the town and arrested some members of the sect, a
development the violent sect blamed on the complicity of the residents.
Sani said, “A group of Civilian Joint
Task Force from Maiduguri stormed Dawashe village in search of Boko
Haram members when the suspected sect members came armed and fired
sporadic shots that killed over 20 innocent civilians while a dozen
sustained serious gunshot injuries.
“The victims are mostly fishermen and traders who pursue their legitimate business in the area.
“As of the time of compiling this
report, the victims were still lying within the premises of MNJTF Field
Ambulance, receiving medical treatment from the injuries sustained
during the attack.
“As part of the excellent Civil Military
Relations and humanitarian gesture demonstrated by MNJTF, a dozen of
Boko Haram victims affected by the attack in Dawashe District of Kukawa
Local Government Borno State got medical treatment in the Headquarters
Field Ambulance in Baga.
“Meanwhile, heavily armed Quick Reaction
Group from MNJTF had been deployed in the area to ensure the safety of
lives and property of residents. The general area of Dawashe, Daban
Masara and Malan Karanti are known to be suspected Boko Haram
(enclave).”
In a related development, members of the
Civilian JTF said five of their members were killed in Ajilari, Ngomari
and Bulumkutu by Boko Haram members.
One of the members of the volunteers,
Aliko Musa, said, “It was a huge loss to us; five of our brave minds
were killed yesterday (Saturday) by the outlawed Boko Haram. They paid
the supreme price when we visited Mainok Village in search of the
terrorists and we shall not relent.”
Spokesman for the JTF, Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, however, faulted the number of casualties on the part of the youth volunteers.
Musa, however, confirmed the Mainok attack, adding that one of the youths died while one others sustained injuries.
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