MAIDUGURI –
Boko Haram insurgents invaded Auno, a village 20 kilometres from the state capital, Maiduguri, on Sunday night, killing no fewer than 30 persons.
Aside from those killed in the attack, several others, including women and children were also abducted, while 18 vehicles and several houses were razed. A source said the insurgents invaded the community at 10pm, shooting sporadically at everyone in sight.
“The insurgents abducted a number of women and children, with no fewer than 30 people who were mostly motorists killed and 18 vehicles destroyed,” the source said.
An eyewitness, who gave his name simply as Ali Baba, said a large number of shops and houses were looted before being set ablaze by the suspected insurgents who sneaked into the town at a time most of the villagers had retired to bed.
“I could not count the number of vehicles that were burnt. But I saw three burnt corpses in a vehicle of civilian JTF. I also saw many houses and shops burnt to ashes,” Baba said.
Residents said motorists and passengers were trapped after military authorities at the Auno checkpoint denied them entry into Maiduguri for failing to reach at the stipulated time of closing the gate, thereby forcing them to pass the night near Auno before the insurgents struck.
Babagana Umara Zulum, who confirmed the attack yesterday, stormed the scene of the attack in the company of Garrison Commander, 7 Div Nigerian Army, among other top officers of the Army, to commiserate with those who survived the attack.
Gov Zulum pledges support for victims
Zulum, visibly shaken when he saw the charred remains of victims who had died in the fire resulting from burnt vehicles, requested the military authorities to dismantle the Auno gate from its present position and move it further away from the village so that it will be more difficult for insurgents to gain access into the village.
He said: “Borno State government will assist those whose vehicles were destroyed in the attack as well as those whose goods were burnt in trucks transporting foodstuff and other wares into Maiduguri.”
He also called on the people to remain calm and be law-abiding in the face of these challenges while the government looks for ways out of the situation.
Only 10 killed in Auno attack, says Theatre Commander
Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, told journalists, yesterday, that only 10 people were killed in the incident, contrary to reports which claimed that over 30 people were killed in the Boko Haram massacre.
Governor Zulum, who visited the scene of the attack early morning, said he was briefed by the villagers that about 30 people were roasted in the fire ignited by the insurgents at about 9.50 pm on Sunday.
But the Theatre Commander Operation Lafiya Dole denied the report, stating: “I have no knowledge of a military tanker on that road at that time.”
The Theatre Commander told journalists that his men averted another tragedy that would have brought sadness by rescuing three schoolchildren abducted by Boko Haram along Gubio road.
He noted that his men fought skillfully and rescued the three children( two girls and a boy) unhurt.
The children were handed over to their parents by the Theatre Commander.
Speaking further on the Auno attack, Adeniyi called on the general public to avoid being stuck at certain locations along Maiduguri road.
He stressed that people should plan their movement very well along the Damaturu-Maiduguri road so that they will not be stuck at some of these locations.
“We normally close the Damaturu road by 5.00 pm and it is expected that you time your movement very well so that you get to Maiduguri by 5.00 pm, or Damaturu by 5 pm because the soldiers cannot leave to fight Boko Haram and come back to protect people sleeping on the road who refuse to obey the law in the first place,” Maj. Gen. Adeniyi advised.
Adeniyi informed that the insurgents came on motor-cycles and parked them from a distance and walked down to burn down vehicles of travelers.
“We will do more to ensure that incident like this does not happen again. I am calling on all stakeholders to make the Maiduguri-Damaturu road safe until the people realize that there is a counter-insurgency going on throughout the northeast.
“As a result of the dastardly activities of the Boko Haram, certain measures have to be taken to safeguard lives and property and the military is conducting counter-insurgency, especially on Maiduguri-Damaturu road,” he said.
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