Fightened residents in shock after Islamic State West Africa Province fighters attack small villages in the Damboa and Mafa local government areas.

Two civilians have been killed in an attack by insurgents on a small village in the Damboa Local Government Area in Borno State.

Residents of Kauji village said a large number of insurgents, suspected of being members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), arrived on motorbikes and on foot at about 11.30pm on Monday, December 23, when most people were asleep.

“There were many of them. They arrived on motorbikes and on foot. They were heavily armed and they were shooting haphazardly. I woke up to the sounds of gunshots,” said Abdulrahman Abaana. “I was frightened. The children were crying and I was trying to calm them down.

“Most of the villagers were asleep when the attackers started shooting. We all woke up in a panic. We did not know what to do. We feared for our lives. Some of us stayed in our houses; others fled into the bushes to hide. It was chaotic. Some people are still missing. We don’t know if they’re alive. They might be too terrified to come out of the bushes.”

Abaana told RNI the insurgents looted food from people’s houses and raided local shops before setting them ablaze.

“As they went from house to house, they were shooting wildly. They set alight at least 20 houses, shops and community building structures, including a warehouse.

“Buildings all around the village were ablaze. It was only after the raid that we discovered two people were killed. One man was shot, the other stepped on an improvised explosive device [IED] that the insurgents had planted.

“At least 40 cattle were shot dead. They were tied to their stalls and could not escape.

“After what felt like a very long time, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force [CJTF] and local hunters got to the village. We are grateful because they fought off the attackers. We thank Almighty Allah that the security operatives were able to chase away the insurgents. Everything is quiet now but we fear the insurgents might come back.”

Mayinta Njitti, a CJTF member in the Damboa Local Government Area, said: “According to the information we received, ISWAP insurgents burnt down a number of houses. They shot and killed cattle. Two residents died.

“The villagers are still terrified. They fear the insurgents will return.”

Njitti told RNI that there were no security operatives stationed in Kauji village, so residents had no one to rely on.

“After this attack, local government authorities are planning to relocate CJTF members to the village to protect the residents.”

– A CJTF member has been killed by suspected ISWAP fighters in an attack on Ngwom, a village in the Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.

A security operative, who asked to remain anonymous, told RNI that insurgents stormed the village shortly before midnight on Tuesday, December 24.

A CJTF member was killed and several others were wounded.

The CJTF member was buried on Wednesday, December 25, according to Islamic rites.

AYSHA MUSTAPHA KOLOMI