Chibok, Borno State the community that has allegedly suffered the hardest from the hands of the Boko Haram insurgents was again hit on Sunday.
Over 51 people were killed. According to eyewitnesses, most of those who died in the attack were Christian. Also, five churches including Cocin, EYN and Deeper Life Bible Church in Kwada village, about 10 kilometres from Chibok were razed, when the gunmen unleashed terror while church service was in full swing on Sunday.
The attacks were carried out on a day the Federal Government said last week’s bomb attack on Abuja was meant to intimidate the government and that it is a struggle for power.
Chibok town was where the more than 200 pupils of Government Girls Secondary School were shanghaied on 14th April this year.
Two weeks ago, the community had received a written threat from Boko Haram that further attacks would be unleashed on it. According to witness accounts the attack began when everyone was already in church.
“The attackers killed and burnt houses after attacking worshippers in five churches in Kwada, before moving to Kautikari less than 8 kilometres to Chibok town, killing and burning down people’s houses and property. The security operatives were not on ground to defend us. In fact, those who ran into the bush were pursued and killed by the murderers,” Amos Bulus a Chibok indigene told newsmen
It was gathered from another source that the people living in Chibok town have fled their homes following the news of the attacks in Kwada and Kautikari.
Peter Maina, a police officer reported that he was called out from a Church service in Maiduguri, only to be informed that his brother was killed at Kwada when the insurgents attacked the village during church service.
At Chikwarkir village in Biu Local Government Area, a resident, Mallam Audu Zira told Vanguard on phone that the terrorists came in pick up vehicles and motorcycles and opened fire on people before setting houses, and other property ablaze.
Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District confirmed the multiple attacks on Chibok villages, yesterday, in a telephone interview in Maiduguri.
“The military and other security agencies should do more by not only deploying more personnel, but cooperating fully with members of the Local Vigilante Group in fighting terrorism and insurgency in this part of the state. They know the terrains of Sambisa Forest and can track insurgents in their hideouts,” Ndume said.
“The two should work as a team to end this Boko Haram insurgency that will clock five years by 29th July 2014.”
Meanwhile, America’s Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby has said during the weekend that the country has reduced its surveillance flights in the search for more than 200 schoolgirls abducted because other countries have joined in the search.
“We don’t have any better idea today than we did before about where these girls are, but there has been no let up of the effort itself”, Kirby said. He added that the same level of effort was being sustained now through international involvement.