A soldier was killed, many others and some residents were seriously injured in an attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Ngom Village in the Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Amma Busami, the Hunters’ commander in Ngom, confirmed the attack. He said it had occurred in the evening when most villagers were cleaning up; others were going to the mosque.

“They killed one soldier, many were injured, and some residents of Mafa were seriously injured in the attack.”

Busami said the insurgents were shooting in the air. When residents realized what was happening, they panicked and ran to hide.

He said at first residents thought it was local soldiers testing their weapons, but then they heard the insurgents shouting takbeer (ʾAllāhu ʾakbar^u).

He said the shooting went on for about an hour.

He said that the Civilians Joint Task Force and other “patriotic” men had greatly contributed to repelling the attacks Busami said the insurgents used sophisticated weapons. He said there was no comparison. If the military and local hunters had the same weapons, the insurgents would not have the strength to invade the village.

He said insurgents had burnt down the military’s headquarters in Mafa. Vehicles and other military facilities were also burnt.

He did not see any bodies of the insurgents once the area had been cleared.

An anonymous source said the insurgents had taken a police car.

Residents have been urging the government to provide them with modern weapons as well as giving them the necessary support to fight the insurgents.