Boko Haram: Hunters comb bush for pupils

32 die as sect sacks village

Parents protest in Lagos

How bomb suspect was seized

Many pupils of the Federal Government College Buni Yadi, Yobe State, are still missing – one week after a night attack on their dormitory by Boko Haram insurgents.

Parents peaceful protest

No fewer than 43 pupils are believed to have been killed in the attack, which has attracted wide condemnation, including a protest yesterday in Lagos. Many were injured. Some of the pupils were burnt beyond recognition by the fire set to the hostel by the insurgents. Those who attempted to flee the attack were shot.

Parents of pupils who are not among the dead and the injured have been asking for the whereabouts of their wards and children.

The Yobe State government set up a committee, led by Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Ahmed Mustapha Goniri, which has engaged hunters and herdsmen to comb bushes for missing pupils. The plan is to find them alive or recover their bodies.

Goniri, who hails from the area, spoke yesterday of the “collaboration with hunters in search of missing pupils in the bush”.

He said the measure became necessary because “many parents are still complaining of not seeing their children after the attack”.

The commissioner added: “We decided to make this contact with the hunters and some herdsmen in the area because some parents have come up to lodge complaints that they have not seen their children since the attack.

“Though we have not received a report of any student found in the bush, we are working on the assumption that some of them may have run into the bush for dear lives.

“We have also contacted vigilance groups to give any information to the village heads and religious leaders for rapid action.”

The commissioner said Yobe government was committed to bringing succour to the victims of the attack.

“As you are aware, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam donated N100m to members of the staff affected in the attack. This is just one aspect. The government is committed to assisting the victims. The governor will continue to do everything within the confines of its resources to bring succour to the families and victims,” he said.

After a weekend of violence in which no fewer than 90 people were killed, in what has now become a daily attack on Borno State, the insurgents killed 32 people in another attack on another village, on Sunday night.

Soldiers, outgunned by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, reportedly fled Mafa, leaving residents to their deadly fate.

Thatched roofs were set ablaze as gunmen rolled into town, shooting at about 8 p.m., witnesses said. All homes, shops and government buildings were destroyed.

Senator Ahmed Zannah said two policemen were killed in a bomb blast early yesterday, as they attempted to rescue other victims.

Zannah said a week before the attack, most Mafa residents fled their homes after leaflets were dropped in the village, warning of imminent danger. He said seven soldiers are believed to be missing.

It also emerged yesterday that the alleged “mastermind” of last Saturday Maiduguri twin-bomb explosions was arrested after missing his way.

The mastermind was said to be driving a bomb-laden Golf car to the Artillery Unit of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri when the vehicle exploded.

The military was working on the theory that the Golf Car was carrying timed bombs.

A military source confirmed that the Boko Haram insurgents struck between Sunday night and Monday morning in Mafa village.

The military said it was still taking stock of the attack, making it “too early to give casualty figures”.

A top source said: “The village of Mafa was actually attacked by the insurgents on Sunday night till the early hours of Monday. It was a massive raid by Boko Haram.

“The report we got yesterday morning was that the entire village was wiped out but we are still investigating this claim.

“We have not got the clear picture of the situation. We are in a circumstance whereby you hear all sorts of reports but in the military, we usually take stock before we make public confirmation.”

Preliminary investigation into last Saturday’s twin-bomb explosions in Maiduguri indicated that the arrested “mastermind” was heading to Artillery Unit barracks in the city.

Another source said: “While one of the vehicles was a van carrying firewood, the other was a Golf car going to one of the Artillery units in Maiduguri.

“Since there are two Artillery units in Maiduguri, the arrested ‘mastermind’ could not find his way.

“He decided to alight from the car to ask the locals in Ngomari-Bulukumtu Quarters of his way to one of the Artillery units. As he was doing that, the Golf car exploded. The explosion coincided with that of the van carrying firewood.

“The residents of the area were vigilant enough to arrest the suspect, handing him over to the military.”

It was gathered that a Chadian and a Cameroonian were arrested yesterday in Jos as part of the manhunt for fleeing Boko Haram members.

A military source said: “We have been on the trail of fleeing Boko Haram members and we arrested a Chadian and a Cameroonian in Jos.

“This development has confirmed that some foreigners have been recruited by the insurgents.” (0)

Boko Haram: Hunters comb bush for pupils