Attacks in Azir and Damboa towns in Borno State prompt operatives to beef up security measures.

Two traders have been shot and killed and a civilian joint task force (CJTF) member severely wounded in separate attacks believed to have been carried out by Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS) insurgents in the Damboa Local Government Area in Borno State this week.

The first attack in which the traders were killed occurred in Azir town on Sunday, October 1, and the second in Damboa town around midnight on Monday, October 2. Azir is about 10km from Damboa.

Jibril Ali, a CJTF member, said the traders were members of the Fulani tribe who had arrived from neighbouring communities to buy and sell goods at the market in Azir.

They were sleeping inside a school compound when the insurgents opened fire on them.

Ali was unsure of the number but, he said, others sleeping in the compound managed to escape.

“Some of them were badly wounded. The insurgents stole property belonging to the traders.”

Ali told RNI that the traders had planned to return to their communities on Monday after concluding their deals at the market on Sunday.

“This is not the first time people have been attacked like this in Azir. About two months ago, insurgents invaded someone’s house, killed the man’s wife and stole his livestock – mainly cattle and sheep – and other valuables.”

He said the CJTF knew that residents of the town were frightened by the latest deadly attack.

“But, as security operatives, we will continue to be on the lookout and we will do our best to protect the lives and property of residents. We urge residents to cooperate fully with the military, police, CJTF members and other security operatives. If they see strangers, become aware of suspicious movements or come across foreign objects, they must report them to security operatives immediately. They must do their part to ensure the safety of all during our counterinsurgency operations.”

In the second attack on Monday, a top CJTF member, Bana Lawan Gana Usman, was severely wounded when insurgents broke into his home in Damboa town at about midnight.

Fanna Usman, his wife, told RNI that four insurgents broke into their home at about midnight.

“We heard loud knocking on the door and my husband went to see who it was and what they wanted. Before he even got to the door, the insurgents started shooting, severely wounding one of my husband’s hands.

“Soldiers and CJTF members arrived at the scene at about 12.20am as soon as they heard the gunshots. Some of the security operatives chased the insurgents into the nearby forest, while others took my husband to hospital so that he could get proper medical treatment.”

Fanna said she and her husband had four children, three girls and a boy.
“I am terrified. Nothing like this has ever happened. What if they had wounded or killed one of the children? As far as I know, my husband has no enemies among his colleagues. I think the Boko Haram [JAS] insurgents might have targeted him because he is a top member of the CJTF in Damboa. They might have been sending a message to try to stop him and other members of the CJTF from fighting against the insurgency.”

She said the military, CJTF members and other security operatives, such as vigilantes and local hunters, had already tightened security measures in the town and nearby forest to avert a recurrence of such an attack.

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO