Fear as insurgents abduct young girls in Konduga

The merciless attackKonduga, a hitherto burgeoning municipal town on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital would probably remain lifeless for a long time to come. Its present piteous and desolate  state was orchestrated by what the natives describe as the  “total brutal onslaught” on them by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. What is worrisome […]

The merciless attack
Konduga, a hitherto burgeoning municipal town on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital would probably remain lifeless for a long time to come. Its present piteous and desolate  state was orchestrated by what the natives describe as the  “total brutal onslaught” on them by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. What is worrisome is the abduction of young girls, adding a new dimension to the insurgents’ operation in the areas which have come under attacks.
Weekly Trust gathered that the town came under the fierce force of the insurgents on Tuesday, February 11th, 2014.  Indeed, it was the second of such horrendous attack in less than a year, which similarly  left  everything almost in ruins.
A visit to town on Wednesday, a day after the attack which left over 39 people dead tells the story of anguish and pain in the survivors.
While flustered men and women have evidently exhausted their tears and could no longer cry, a look at hundreds of wailing babies, who slept in the bushes with their parents, prompted most sympathizers that visited the area from Maiduguri and other places to cry out loudly. They asked rhetorically how a man could callously visit such mayhem on a fellow man.
But in  the year 2000, during the first anniversary of this democratic dispensation, which coincided with a visit to Borno State by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, he declared Konduga as  the Best Local Government Area in Nigeria.
“Konduga is a small London in Nigeria” said Obasanjo. “Its leaders have brought to the fore, the meaning of democracy in our land. What I see here is worthy of emulation by all leaders who truly have the love of their people in their minds,” the former president said.
A letter of commendation was thereafter given to Kaka Mallam Yale, the then executive chairman of Konduga local council.
But if Obasanjo were to re-visit Konduga today, he would  cry- simply because, all the “democracy dividends” put in place in the past years are gone as the famous Konduga is now in ruins, its people devastated and anything “government” gone.
Residents said beside the 39 people that were confirmed dead on the first day, many other bodies were recovered the following days; some rarely identified as a result of the enormity of the burns they sustained, after being trapped in ruined houses on fire.
Other bodies were also picked in the bushes with noticeable gunshot wounds, some dead and others with injuries, now receiving treatment in various hospitals, including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
The abductions
Another sad and traumatic dimension to the attack was the inglorious abduction of girls and professionals by the rampaging insurgents.
It was gathered that some teenage girls were picked at a secondary school and a medical doctor equally whisked away after the insurgents raided a health facility, took away the medicaments and set the place ablaze.
Nothing is heard of the abductees, their families and local authorities said.
  This is the second attack on Konduga town in less than a year. During the first one, over forty people were killed and their sources of livelihood destroyed.
But the latest attack appeared to be much more daring and sophisticated; executed on a market day, thereby inflicting colossal damage on the psyche of the people.
Massive destructions
Weekly Trust which was in Konduga reports that over 70 percent of the town was destroyed while residents who fled in search of safety slept in bushes and neighboring villages.
While in the bushes, battling with chilly  cold, the locals began  trooping  back to Konduga when they learnt that Governor Shettima was on his way to commiserate with them.
Akin to devastated victims of war, the locals, including men, baby -cuddling women and  confused men that were evidently restless sat in front of their burnt houses.
Terrible sights at the entrance of the ravaged town heralded the moment of crying by Governor Shettima who was accompanied by his deputy, Zanna Umar Mustapha, secretary to the state government, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda; his Chief of Staff, Habu Kyari and many commissioners and other top government functionaries.
Local officials and residents told the governor that the insurgents, numbering over 400, armed with rocket propelled grenades and explosives operated in a commando style,  when they struck, destroying over 2000 bricks, mud and thatched houses.
Also in the entourage of the  governor were  the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 12 Mohammed Gana and the Borno State commissioner of Police, Lawan Tanko.
Some of the public buildings destroyed include the College of Administration and Business Studies, Government Girls College, the women and children’s hospital, the agric extension office, court, library, dozens of shops and stores and countless vehicles.
The palace of the district head was also reduced to rubbles,  while the Central Mosque close to it was laced with explosives which exploded much later at night, forcing the dome and the minarets to collapse into the main bowl.
Residents said the bombs were timed, apparently to kill worshippers, who might attempt to go there for morning prayers.
With no other place to use as a rallying point, the surviving locals gathered at the premises of the wreckage mosque, helplessly looking at thirty nine bodies, including men, women and children who were killed in various places.
The corpses were being prepared for burial when the governor, whose countenance suddenly changed when he saw deceased, appeared at the scene.
 Speaking to newsmen after assessing the situation, Shettima urged the people to remain strong.
“This is our own land, we have nowhere to go, come rain or come shine. We have to remain in Konduga, we have to remain in Borno to salvage the situation.”
According to him, “I have ordered for the release of N100m to start rehabilitation works and purchase of humanitarian items like food, blankets and so on for the hapless victims of this madness.
“We have gone round together with you (journalists). You have seen that up to 70 per cent of the town has been razed to the ground…most facilities have been burnt down, but we are willing to expend whatever resources we have to restore  back those facilities to their lost glory”.
Asked why Boko Haram are always succeeding in attacking towns and villages, despite the establishment a  military  Division in Borno State, Shettima said, “Frankly speaking, officers and men of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian police Force are doing their best, given the circumstances. But you and I know that the Boko Haram are better armed and better motivated.
“There is the need for additional troops and additional support for the military. I am an eternal optimist, I hope and pray that very soon, the federal government will rise to the challenges of the day,” he said.
He also said dialogue must be pursued to the fullest.  “We would continue to call for dialogue because unless we want to engage in an endless war of attrition, we don’t have any other option than to talk to the moderate elements of the Boko Haram to lay down their arms and be reintegrated into the society.
“As J. F Kennedy rightly said, we should never negotiate out of fear,  but we should never fear to negotiate. We are willing to talk to the moderate elements. But look at the lunatics that burnt a mosque… They are burning down churches, so I don’t know whether to call them criminals or whatever, I don’t know, honestly. In Kawuri they burnt down five mosques. So, the issue of people even linking them with the religion of Islam should not arise,” he said.
The police commissioner described the attack as heinous. “We are here with all of you and you have seen everything for yourselves,” he said.
Natives recount ordeal
Tijjani Peter, the secretary of the vigilante group, also known as civilian JTF in Konduga said the onslaught started around 5pm on Tuesday and lasted till about 12am yesterday.
“The terrorist came and had a field day, destroyed everything on sight and killed at will after they successfully subdued the military operatives on ground,” he said.
According to him, “Only few of the attackers held Ak47 rifles, all the rest had rocket launchers and bombs. Soon after the first attack around the palace of the district head, they hoisted their flag at the centre of the town which was red and black in colour. When they asserted their authority,  they went on rampage and mercilessly bulldozed everywhere,” Peter said.
He alleged that soldiers and policemen had to flee when they realized that they could not confront the insurgents.
“As you can see, all the military posts in the town have been destroyed and this underscores the level of carnage unleashed on us,” he said.
Another vigilante leader, Bakura said they heard of the attacks three days ago and alleged that they alerted the military operatives in the area.
“We told the  relevant security operatives of the impending attack but no serious measure was taken. When the terrorists came, the few soldiers stationed here appeared gullible because the attackers have superior weapons. They came with two armoured carriers,” he said.
He said even the arrival of a fighter jet around 8pm did not subdue the attackers, who according to him took time to accomplish their mission before they left.
“Wallahi” (meaning I swear to Allah )  they even sat on the main road, ate the food, suya and other consumables they carted away at the market before they disappeared. Whenever the fighter jet attempted to shell them, they have a way of dodging it, only to reappear again,” he said.
Bakura said five of the attackers were killed but the remaining insurgents picked the bodies and left.
“What is happening is very frustrating because, time and again, we have told security officials that we know where the terrorists are living, their enclave is not more than 20 kilometers away and we only ask for cover and support to go there, unfortunately, nobody is willing to confront them,” he said.
Abubakar Adamu, a borehole operator in Konduga said he lost his brother, Abdurrahman. “They butchered him and many other innocent people,” he said.
Khadija Usman, a mother of four said she was yet to see her husband. “He left for the weekly market and did not return. I and my children passed the night in the bush and came back in the morning when security operatives remobilized,” she said.
Another woman, Kyallu, aged 60 said they don’t have anywhere to sleep. “Our house is gone, all what we earned in our life time is gone. Even the goats that I and my grand children relied on to get milk have been killed. We really need help,” she said.
However, the villagers thanked Governor Shettima for his prompt response which they said was a great relief.
The attack on Konduga was launched less than two weeks after a similar one was carried out in Kawuri, also in Konduga local government where 85 people were killed and 200 houses, including five mosques and shops were razed to the ground.