Brief – A fishing trip turned bad when six fishermen were beaten and injured by insurgents, thought to be members of the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), in Jauri in the Damboa Local Government Area on Wednesday, December 21.

The fishermen, from the Dimeri community, told RNI reporter Alkali Mustapha that while they were fishing at Jauri, about 3km to 4km from Damboa, they were suddenly surrounded by at least 10 insurgents.

“They had guns which they pointed at us but did not shoot. One threatened to behead one of us but then withdrew the knife. Instead, they beat us up badly, injuring us, and took our bicycles, food, clothes, shoes and money,” said Garba, one of the victims.

“After beating us, they said, ‘Do you think you are safe in Damboa? We will come, capture and conquer the town. Damboa is ours, we have control.’ They said they had warned people not to fish in the area but we did not listen. We apologised and told them we did not know that.”

AISHA SD JAMAL