Suspected Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS) insurgents raided the town of Goniri in Yobe State on Saturday night killing a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and badly wounding another, setting fire to houses and shooting haphazardly at residents and homes.

They stole two vehicles belonging to the CJTF, one of which they set alight. They also stole food supplies.

A source, who asked to remain anonymous, said the attackers stormed into Goniri in the Gujba Local Government Area at about 8pm, heading straight into the town and shooting wildly. The source said some houses were burnt to the ground.

A witness, Sanda Kyari, said residents wanted more protection from the military, so that the towns and villages that were experiencing an increase in the number of attacks would be protected. He said there had been attacks on the military at Damboa, Kafa and Shettimari.

He said there needed to be more soldiers on the ground and in sight.

But, he said, there were soldiers about 1km away from the attack in Goniri but they did not help residents and came to their aid only after the insurgents had fled.

On the same day, insurgents, suspected of being members of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), attacked Ngala, the capital of the Ngala Local Government Area in Borno State.

A resident, Abubakar Konto Muhammed, said two people were injured and buildings were plundered. He said there were “flying bullets” in all directions. The attack started immediately after the Maghrib prayer at about 6.30pm.

Sources told RNI that peace had been restored in Ngala and Goniri.

They said a battle for territorial supremacy between ISWAP and the Abubakar Shekau-led JAS – also known as Boko Haram − had intensified at the weekend. They said the fighting was mainly on the shores of Lake Chad.

Many communities reported that there had been “suspicious movements” of suspected insurgents in some of the local government areas in Borno State. They said they had “seen action” in Mobbar, Abadam, Ngala, Kala/Balge, Kukawa and Marte.

Similarly, “disturbing activities” had been detected and were being monitored in Magumeri, Gubio and Damasak.