Boko Haram Blow Up Another Bridge Linking Adamawa Borno

Suspected members of the Boko Haram sect yesterday attacked Limankara, Gur and Sabon Gari Hausawa villages in Borno state, blew up the Limankara Bridge linking Borno and Adamawa states at the border with explosives, and torched several houses and the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN).

The terror group, which also set vehicles ablaze and killed a villager, fled towards the direction of Sambisa Forest, after wreaking havoc on the villages.

The marauders, according to two eye witnesses at Gur and Limankara, invaded the villages in several Toyota Hilux vehicles and motorcycles and threw Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs at the buildings.

They were also alleged to have snatched six vehicles and carted away 1,950 bags of beans and other grains.

Wiso Mbicha, who was able to escape from the attackers, said: “The attack on our village came 24 hours before the insurgents struck, as we got the information that Limankara village will be the next target at the weekend. With this information, we had to evacuate all our children and wives to safer places. We don’t know who these gunmen are targeting to kill or kidnap, as they did last Monday at Warabe and Wala villages on the Gwoza-Bama road.

“By 1.35 pm last night, I started hearing people chanting God is great in Arabic towards Jaje village route, before the houses of our District Head, Mr. Zephaniah Tada, and residences of two retired police officers were in flames along with the church, 300 metres behind Tada’s residence.”

“The vehicles parked at the seven houses were also set ablaze, while six others were snatched yesterday night.”
Mbicha, in a telephone chat with journalists yesterday, said: “Some of the soldiers at the Military post were alerted on the advancement of insurgents into the village to attack us, there were exchanges of gunfire for several minutes; while the houses and a church were burning.”
The gunmen however retreated as they were chased out of the village without killing any resident or soldier.”

At Gur village in Biu council area of the state, a separate group of Boko Haram gunmen also shot dead a villager; and torched several houses and shops, before fleeing towards Damaturu road by 12.45am yesterday. A resident, who preferred anonymity, said while at Sabon Gari Hausawan village, the insurgents attempted to recruit young villagers into their sect, but youths that gathered at the village square, however declined to join and become members.

He said they subsequently attacked and though no lives were lost, but several houses and shops in the village on Biu-Damaturu road were also set ablaze with explosives.