MEMBERS of the Boko Haram sect on Wednesday attacked two local government areas namely Gubio and Magumeri in Borno State after an alleged withdrawal of the military from bases in those areas, according to a report.
The insurgents invaded the towns and operated for several hours, carting away drugs, food items, fuel, and other valuables as residents abandoned their homes in fear.
In Magumeri, the local government headquarters, the insurgents burnt the local council secretariat building to the ground, including a public health clinic, the community leaders’ houses, vehicles used by NGOs and telecommunication masts.
Borno state Police spokesperson, Usman Sadiq, declined to comment when The ICIR called.
“Well, I can’t give any details into the state of things in those local governments you mentioned until the commissioner of police gives me clearance to talk to you about it. I’ll call you when I have the go-ahead,” he said.
At the time of filing this report, he was yet to reach The ICIR with updates on the state of security in the affected local governments.
The insurgents operating near Gubio also moved from their base to Magumeri, about 50 kilometres south, raiding the local government area and traumatising its population.
However, the Civilian Joint Task Force members were the only security personnel present in the towns when the attack occurred but they retreated into the forest along with villagers due to the number of the insurgents and weapons in their possession, according to the eyewitness.
The attack comes days after members of the Boko Haram sect attacked the Nigerian Army 5 Brigade in Gubio, killing four soldiers. The military relocated the entire brigade from Gubio following the attack, without a contingency plan in place to protect its residents.
In a report, sources said that from Maiduguri to Damasak, a distance of 200 kilometres, the military no longer has a base in place. Rather the Nigerian Army will introduce a mobile operation, instead of establishing a super camp.
The army authorities is yet to formally issue a statement on the attack as at the time of this report.
Amos Abba is a journalist with the International Center for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, who believes that courageous investigative reporting is the key to social justice and accountability in the society.