By Musdapha Ilo

No fewer than 12 persons are feared dead in Borno State after suspected members of deadly Boko Haram sect attacked Sandiya village in Damboa local government area, setting ablaze several buildings and shooting at escapees.

An unknown number of persons have also been displaced. It was gathered that some residents of the village opposed to the activities of the sect leaked information about them to the military who used the intelligence to record success in recent confrontations.

The gunmen were therefore believed to have embarked on a revenge mission to the community which had declared itself an enemy by exposing their activities.

Eyewitnesses said the fully armed gunmen numbering about 30 stormed the village in three Hilux vehicles and motorcycles and shot sporadically at helpless and unarmed residents, killing at least 12 persons and inflicting bullets wounds on many others.

Confirming the incident in an email message to journalists, the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Tanko Lawal, said, “The story is true, hoodlums invaded the community and killed 12 people, burnt houses, steal vehicles and motorcycles.”

Damboa, approximately 85 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, has witnessed several deadly attacks by the sect.