The residents of two Borno villages in Chibok Local Government Area of the state could barely hide their tears and emotions as they had buried 26 of their relatives and friends, including 6 vigilante members, who lost their lives in clashes with Boko Haram fighters over the weekend.
* Map of the most outrageous Boko Haram activities. Photo credit – BBC
A representative of Koronginim, one of the two communities raided described the development as a huge tragedy for the people:
“We have lost our fathers, uncles, brothers, and sons. It is a big tragedy for us.”
According to SaharaReporters, a local vigilante member confirmed that Boko Haram sect lost at least 17 of its militants in clashes with the resisting villagers in the past two weeks.
It has been also learnt that suspected terrorists wearing military camouflaged uniforms, without any signs had invaded Ntsiha and Koronginim communities in the morning of June 21, 2014, Saturday. The sect members were driving motorcycles and several Sports Utility Vehicles. The vehicles were painted in the colours of the Nigerian Army.
The attackers started shooting at helpless villagers without any warning. This is not the new tactic, as Boko Haram members have been repeating such types of raids from time to time.
Despite the previous report by Vanguard that put the death toll to 40, a local vigilante member, identified as Dauda Must, informed SaharaReporters that at least 26 people lost their lives on the spot, while many other residents sustained bullet wounds.
He noted that that this figure included 6 vigilante members and 20 residents. Over 20 villagers are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Chibok.
An official from the Chibok Local Government council who later visited the scene of the attacks, said he saw
Five corpses of the attackers were spotted on June 22, 2014, Sunday, by an official of Chibok LGA council. At the same time, he noted that “more corpses may be in the nearby bushes”.
It would be added that clashes between the Civilian JTF and Boko Haram members have been especially intensive in the last couple of weeks. A notable victory was recorded one week ago, when 8 terrorists were killed, one captured alive in a battle near Kwarangilam village of the troubled LGA.
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