*NDCDC Pays Tributes To 8 Personnel Killed By Kidnappers In Edo
OVER 60 persons, including soldiers, have been reportedly killed by Boko Haram terrorists in Darul Jama, Bama Local Council of Borno State, on Friday night, September 5.
Reuters/DW/AFP, citing residents and official sources, on Saturday, September 6, said the well-coordinated and simultaneously attack by gunmen identified as members of Boko Haram, began around 8.30 pm at Darul Jamal and lasted till day break.
Many of the victims had returned to the town only recently after years of displacement until the scores of armed fighters arrived on motorbikes and began shooting indiscriminately and setting homes ablaze.
“They went house to house, killing men and leaving women behind. Almost every household is affected,” the traditional head of Darul Jama, who requested anonymity, told Reuters.
He said 70 bodies had been recovered by Saturday morning, with more residents still missing.
A man simply identified as Malam Bukar, who fled with his wife and three children, told AFP: “They came shouting, shooting everyone in sight.”
“When we returned at dawn, bodies were everywhere.”
Another source claimed that many people were still missing after the attacks, adding: “Over 20 houses and 10 buses were also burnt down.”
Seven of those killed were said to be drivers, while six were labourers from Bama Town and Maiduguri, who were taking part in the rebuilding of the village.
A top state government official said at least 59 persons were killed and seven bodies had been brought to Maiduguri for burial, noting: “It is disheartening! The terrorists came to the town and operated for hours without any form of resistance. In fact, I was told they passed their night in the village.
“We need to wake up, and our military should brace up and take the fight to them. We have just lost 59 souls. It is sad.”
According to a tally by a non-profit organisation, Good Governance Africa, the first six months of this year saw a resurgence in jihadist activity, with some 300 attacks killing about 500 civilians, despite the military’s insistence that it has stepped up counterinsurgency operations in recent months to try to curb insurgents’ activities.
This attack marks a major setback for the military’s counterinsurgency operations and efforts to return internally displaced persons to their villages.
In another developmemt, gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, on Friday, September 5, a group of gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, attacked a convoy of the paramilitary Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) killing eight officers and seriously injuring four others before kidnapping some Chinese nationals working at the BUA Cement site in Okpella, Etsako East Local Council of Edo State.
According to a source: “The attackers laid ambush at the company’s entrance. They opened fire sporadically, engaging NSCDC operatives in a gun duel. Despite the loss of personnel, NSCDC operatives successfully rescued four expatriates.
“The armed group escaped into the bush with one abducted expatriate. The injured officers were evacuated and are receiving medical care.”
The state Commandant of NSCDC, Agun Gbenga, visited the crime scene and hospital where the injured are being treated.
NSCDC spokesman, Afolabi Babawale, told Reuters that four Chinese workers who were kidnapped were rescued, but one was missing.
Meanwhile, the Corps, in a statement by Babawale, on Saturday, September 6, paid glowing tributes to the slain personnel killed in the gun duel with the assailants that lasted over three hours.
He said the Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, described the slain operatives as gallant officers who paid the supreme price in the line of duty, and directed the Edo State Commandant and senior management staff to visit the bereaved families, arrange for the burial of the deceased with full honours and ensure adequate support for their dependants.
Audi further assured that the medical bills of the injured personnel would be fully covered, while relevant security agencies have intensified efforts to comb the forests and rescue the abducted expatriate.
While condemning the attack, Audi said: “The labour, commitment and patriotism displayed by these operatives will forever be remembered.”
He also urged the public to disregard conflicting or embellished reports of the incident, stressing that the NSCDC remains unwavering in its mandate to protect critical national assets and infrastructure.
Audi clarified: “A gang of armed kidnappers launched a grievous attack against the operatives of the NSCDC attached to BUA Cement Company, Okpella.
“It is very imperative to relay to the public the exact situation surrounding the attack. The operatives were deployed to provide adequate security and ensure the security coverage of the Chinese expatriates working at the company.
“Quite unfortunately, the convoy of both NSCDC operatives and the Chinese expatriates was ambushed during a routine patrol, leaving eight personnel dead, four seriously injured, one of the expatriates missing and four expatriates rescued and saved.”
