200 killed in Borno town

At least 200 people were killed in Gamboru, Borno State, on Monday when suspected Boko Haram gunmen raided the town which is on the border with Cameroon.Sixteen policemen were among the dead in the afternoon violence that lasted for about four hours, residents and political leaders from the area told Daily Trust yesterday.The attackers, wearing […]

At least 200 people were killed in Gamboru, Borno State, on Monday when suspected Boko Haram gunmen raided the town which is on the border with Cameroon.
Sixteen policemen were among the dead in the afternoon violence that lasted for about four hours, residents and political leaders from the area told Daily Trust yesterday.
The attackers, wearing military fatigue, came driving dozens of pick-up trucks and motorcycles, with three armoured personnel carriers providing cover, a witness said.
Some residents, who returned to Gamboru yesterday after fleeing to nearby Cameroonian villages, said they found that over 250 homes were destroyed by the insurgents.
Federal lawmaker from the area, Abdulrahman Terab, who spoke to Daily Trust by telephone while on his way to Gamboru, said more than 200 people were killed in the violence.
“As I am talking to you now people are still counting the dead bodies. They have counted over 200 and they have not finished yet,” said Terab, who represents Bama/Gamborun Ngala Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
“Since morning, our people have been conducting funerals for the dead and up to 8pm (last night) they are not done yet. There’s no family that is not affected in Gamboru.
“They have burnt hundreds of houses and all markets in the town, so we need aid from the Nigerian government and the international community,” he added.
A local trader, Abor Masa, told Daily Trust he counted up to 155 bodies.
“We so far counted 155 dead bodies, including men, women and children,” Masa said by telephone from Gamboru.
He said the total death toll may be much higher because volunteers were still combing the bushes for bodies yesterday.
“Some people escaped with bullet wounds and died after losing blood. There are many other survivors with life threatening injuries,” Masa said.
“This is the deadliest attack on our land. Almost everything has been reduced to rubble. Some of the victims were killed by gunshots, some were slaughtered and we recovered some roasted bodies in burnt houses.
“They have destroyed the biggest market in this town while some long vehicles, loaded with assorted goods for exports have been burnt by the attackers.”
Senator for Borno South, Ahmed Zannah, also said the attackers burnt all the shops as well as the offices of the police and customs in the town.
“I spoke to my younger brother, who was inside the market at the time. He told me that anybody who said the number of the people killed in the attack is less than 300 must have been lying,” Zannah told the BBC Hausa radio.
“They burnt over 200 vehicles. People are crying all over the places.”
Residents of Gamboru told Daily Trust an aircraft hovered in the skies throughout the time the attackers wreaked havoc between 1.30pm and 5.30pm Monday.
“We really don’t know what the aircraft was meant for because from across the border, we did not see any resistance,” resident Salman Bukar said.
“The aircraft simply disappeared after the attackers finished unleashing terror,” he said by telephone.
Vulnerable
Daily Trust learnt that some security operatives in the area fled after engaging the terrorists for some time.
“Ultimately, the attackers had a field day and left us in anguish. We are now burying our loved ones and picking our pieces,” said Falmata Gana, one of the survivors.
“Most of our people do not even have where to sleep while many are still staying with well-wishers across the border.”
Asked about security response to the attack, Senator Zannah said, “The security people that came run away to Cameroon, and the ones that were already deployed in the town have along with the civilian JTF (vigilantes) crossed the Lake Chad in search of the missing girls.”
Rep. Abdurahman Terab said the Gamboru attack underscored the dire security situation in the area.
“This is the last border town between Nigeria and Cameroon in the eastern side, it’s the final frontier, and if such an attack could be done it means that we are vulnerable to any kind of external aggression,” he said.
“It means that we are not protected at all. Such places should be given top priority in our security system.”