Heavily armed, suspected Boko Haram insurgents, invaded Kauji town on Monday, in Damboa local government area northeast Nigeria.

Kauji is located at the heart of Sambisa Forest, where the largest Boko Haram camp is said to be. Kauji is about 2 km from Damboa town and 85km from Maiduguri, the state capita.

One resident of Kauji, Yerima Wakil told our reporter in Damboa, Alkali Mustapha, that the attackers came while they were observing Fajr (early Morning Prayer) in the mosque. “They were shooting sporadically, chanting Allahu Akbar! (God is great!)” He added that over twenty houses were burnt down before the security forces overpowered the attackers.

Another resident, Bandu Awami, whose house was among those destroyed said that the insurgents killed two people, a man and a woman, during the attack.

Speaking to our reporter Shettima Kauji a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force confirmed the incident and said that three people were killed, among them two civilians and one suspected Boko Haram fighter.

“They came on motorcycles and bikes shooting sporadically, I don’t know their exact number, but they are not less than thirty” added Shettima.

“They were looking for food, you know the rainy season is almost over and now is the harvesting season” said Shettima.

“Without support from the military and the police, we cannot overpower them”

Shettima also thanked the other security operatives apart from the military and police for coming to their aid during the attack.

Our reporter gathered that the insurgents stormed the village and engaged the Civilian Joint Task Force, Local Hunters/Vigilantes and innocent civilians. Calm has now returned to the town.

Just three week ago, the military confirmed the death of top military officer Colonel D.C Bako who was killed during an ambush by the Boko insurgents in Damboa local government area of Maiduguri. Meanwhile, the road from Maiduguri to Damboa was equally closed by the military due to the frequent attacks on commuters by the insurgents.