Boko Haram kill pastor, 18 others, burn churches in Borno

By Caleb Ayansina & Ndahi Marama

Some suspected members of Boko Haram sect yesterday attacked Shaffa and Shindiffu villages of Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, killing one Pastor Eliud Gwamna Mshelizza of the Living Faith Church, a teacher (names withheld) at Government Girls Secondary School, Shaffa, and 18 other persons who were mainly Christians.

Boko haram in Borno

The terrorists also burnt down about 10 churches such as E.Y.N No I, E.Y.N No II and III in Shaffa and Shindiffu villages as well several houses.  A clinic and some staff quarters and structures at the Government Girls Secondary School in Shaffa were also destroyed.

Unfortunately for the terrorists, as they were about to leave Shindiffu and proceed to Turaku village, another Christian community, to continue their deadly acts, troops from Adamawa axis and Biu Military barracks, who were on their trail ambushed them and killed almost all of them.

The attackers, according to fleeing residents invaded Shaffa at about 8pm on Wednesday and wreaked havoc before storming Shindiffu village yesterday morning at about 11am.

Shaffa is south and about 20 kilometres drive from Azare, the headquarters of Hawul which is 215 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the state capital, which has remained under series of attacks by Boko Haram.

In the last two months, Tashan Alade, Hirzhi, Pela Birni, Debiro, Kwajaffa Bura, Jubwuwhi, Dalwa, Shaffa, Shindiffu, among other communities of Hawul had witnessed coordinated and series of deadly attacks by Boko Haram with the burning of churches and houses mostly belonging to Christians.

A top military source  said “Our men from Adamawa and Biu axis repelled the attacks on Shaffa, Shindiffu and Turaku village, over 100 of the terrorists were killed while several arms and ammunition were also recovered in the encounter.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin in a telephone interview with our Correspondent confirmed the attacks on Shaffa and Shindiffu villages, but said, due to the closure of telecommunication network in the area, he was yet to get details and number of casualties, adding that as soon as details of the attack reached him, he will brief the press.

“Yes there was an attack on some villages of Hawul Local Government Area by suspected members of Boko Haram yesterday, but I am yet to get details due to lack of telecommunication services in the affected areas”.

 

Viewed 1 times
Boko Haram kill pastor, 18 others, burn churches in Borno