Boko Haram members on Tuesday reportedly attacked Kukawa town in the northern part of Borno state, resulting into the killing of atleast eight soldiers and injury of three others in an ambush.
Security sources including vigilantes and locals revealed that the Boko Haram insurgents have abducted almost 100 people including young men and girls from Kukawa and adjoining communities.
Recall that WITHIN NIGERIA reported that the helpless people of Magumeri community in Borno State have been brutally attacked by unknown gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members on Monday, August 17.
A source told newsmen that soldiers were asked to move to Kukawa on Tuesday to address increased Boko Haram activities occasioned by raids for food and abduction of child soldiers and girls for Boko Haram commanders.
According to the source, the child soldiers and girls were ambushed by the terrorists who had prior knowledge of their movement.
“The terrorists dressed in camouflage and red barrette ambushed a team of two officers and 28 soldiers. Eight soldiers were killed, three were wounded and two officers got missing, but they were later found,” our source said.
“One MRAP, 4GTs and one ambulance were taken away by the terrorists. In fact, they carried everything. They also burnt one APC (armoured personnel carrier),” the source added.
Source further revealed that the troops were ambushed while they were supervising the excavation of trenches around Kukawa to provide cover for the people.
“There was an attack on our soldiers protecting the people digging trenches in Kukawa town on Tuesday; we lost some soldiers… It was disheartening and unfortunate,” the source who is a top security official, said.
Reacting to the development, Baba Modu Kukawa, a Civilian Joint Task Force member said many soldiers were killed and three gun trucks were carted away by the insurgents.
“The whole incident took less than ten minutes. Unknown to the soldiers, the insurgents were very close to where the trenches were being dug. They opened fire on them,” he said.
An indigene of Kukawa who lives in Maiduguri, Masa Alhaji also confirmed the attack but claimed the town was not captured by insurgents.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that atleast 100 people have been abducted by the terrorists in Kukawa, Magumeri, Abadam, Marte and adjoining communities either for ransom, or conscription into the sect.
It was gathered that over 100 people were taken away around 4pm on Tuesday when the attackers drove into the town in a convoy of vehicles armed with sophisticated weapons.
A community leader said, “It is difficult to give an actual number but what I can tell you is that hundreds of boys and girls have been abducted. Young boys are being forcefully tasked to carry arms. Some parents are being forced to pay ransom to get their children back.
“Similarly, many girls abducted have been turned to sex slaves while the elderly who refused to surrender to the dictates of the terrorists are being killed. It is a sad development at a time when locals are being asked to go back home after living in IDP camps for years,” he said.
According to Daily Trust report, residents of Kukawa were taken back to their ancestral home on August 2, this year after spending over two years as IDPs in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
This was after Governor Babagana Zulum reconstructed their homes and provided them with farm implements and other basic necessities.
The residents were escorted by the military during the relocation as part of the resettlement plan of the state government.
“The Boko Haram fighters that keep disturbing Kukawa are after the goodies provided to them by Zulum. They are also looking for new recruits, fresh women for their commanders and to raise money from payment of ransoms,” a source said.
The governor was attacked on July 29, 2020 in the Kukawa Local Government Area of the state. Zulum said the attack on his convoy was sabotage by the military.
Last weekend, the Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole said the allegation was baseless.
Daily Trust reports revealed that farmers and fishermen in many communities in northern Borno now pay money to terrorists to have access to their farms or be allowed to fish.
Local government areas in northern Borno include Abadam, Guzamala, Magumeri, Gubio, Kaga, Kukawa, Marte, Mobbar, Monguno and Nganzai.
“Farmers in communities not far from LGAs that are accessible can only go to their farms after buying their way,” Bana Mohammed, a farmer Magumeri, said.
“You pay money to the terrorists before they would allow you to have access to your farm. And this depends on the size of the farm. Anybody who refuses to pay will be killed,” he said.
Another source who does not want to be named said gaining access to the waters along the shores of Lake Chad is strictly after gaining clearance from ISWAP leaders.
“The ISWAP commanders believe northern Borno is their territory. Any fisherman who wants to fish must pay tax. They collect the money in Nigerian, Chadian, Nigerien and Cameroonian currencies,” he said.
A source close to Nigerian security forces corroborated the claim.
“All the islands after Doron Baga carry out controlled fishing activities. Dozens of Islands are under the control of Boko Haram,” he said.