At least 11 people were killed and eight wounded in a spate of attacks at the weekend by insurgents, thought to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Seven were reported killed in Damboa and four in the Chibok Local Government Area in the southern region of Borno State.

Habu Musa, a resident of Kautikari village, told RNI reporter Aisha Jamal that residents had run for their lives on Thursday, February 24, when they saw insurgents in the village, which is close to Chibok. One of the villagers took his life in his hands and ran to inform troops.

“As soon as troops left Kautikari on Thursday after patrolling and searching the area, we heard gunshots. One of the villagers bravely ran to inform the troops. Before the troops returned on Friday, insurgents had already arrived in four cars and on a few motorbikes. They killed four men, burnt down a church and the pastor’s house, then looted shops taking whatever they wanted,” Musa said.

In a separate incident on Saturday a wounded man told RNI reporter Alkali Mustapha that he had been wounded in an attack at the Sabon Gari of Damboa.

Abdullahi Abubakar said he was closing his shop at about 6pm when the insurgents arrived in the town on motorbikes. He and other residents were told to gather together.

“Once we were gathered in one place, the insurgents separated the children and the elderly. Then they started shooting at us. I survived with a bullet wound in my hand. But seven were killed and we heard another seven were wounded.”

He said the insurgents had told them that they were attacking residents because they had listened to the troops who said they were sent by the government to protect them.

“They told us that we should not fear insurgents and asked us to cooperate to bring peace back to our town. It was because we had listened to the troops that made them attack us.”

Back in Kautikari village near Chibok, residents again ran in fear to nearby villages for safety when they saw insurgents in the village on Sunday.

Resident Habu Musa told RNI that, as the residents were fleeing, they saw more than 30 armored vehicles of troops arrive in the village.

They kept on hearing explosions and gunshots, he said.

“We saw more armored vehicles arrive on Monday morning. We think the troops and insurgents are engaged in a battle because we keep hearing gunshots and explosions. We can’t go back home – we are in grave danger and very fearful.”

AISHA JAMAL