Boko Haram attacks Borno town, kills nine

Nine persons were killed in an attack by suspected members of the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, on Shani town in Borno State, a fleeing resident of the town told our correspondent on Friday.

The resident, who did not want his name in print, said the insurgents operated in the area undisturbed for several hours, wreaking massive destruction.
He lamented that the insurgents also left several residents of the town injured, even as they destroyed many houses and vehicles in the council headquarters.

“They were equally alleged to have abducted several youths from the area,” said the source, who said the youth vigilance group in the area called him to brief him on the state of affairs in the community.

He said, “The the insurgents came in large number and invaded the council at about 9pm on Wednesday, slaughtered their victims after destroying many houses and vehicles on the streets. Many people have fled the town for safety, leaving only the aged, the sick and children, who could not escape.”

A policeman at Shani  Divisional Police Headquarters, whose craved anonymity, told our correspondent on the telephone from the area that policemen, including himself, fled the town for safety, saying the insurgents were well armed and “it would be suicidal to confront them.”

He added that the task of fleeing was made easier for him as his family members were no longer living with him in the town, having relocated them to a safer zone since December, 2014.

He said, “Yes, there was a deadly attack  on Shani between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Nine people were slaughtered after the destruction of property worth millions of naira by the insurgents.

“They were fierce and massive and the policemen in the town could not just confront them.”