Boko Haram bombs Maiduguri, Damaturu again •Kills 2 •JTF kills 2 sect members

Posted by admin Boko Haram, Latest Politics Friday, January 6th, 2012

MEMBERS of the Boko Haram sect, on Wednesday evening, killed two members of a family; an 80-year-old man, Usman Durkwa and his 40-year-old son, Musa Durkwa, a staff

member of Himma Secondary School in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

This is just as members of the Operation Restore Order of the Joint Task Force (JFT) killed two members of the sect on the same day.

The attack on the family, which took place in Dala Bullumkuttu ward of the state capital, between 7.30 and 8.30 p.m, was in connection with a warning issued by the sect that Christians should leave the North.

A source in the family told the Nigerian Tribune that, “we are Christians and their children have been telling our wards that some day, they are going to slaughter all of us. We never took them seriously because we never thought they could be so mean as to perpetrate such evil.

“This attack on Baba and his son, Musa, is shocking to all of us. Where do we go if they don’t want us in the North? This is something government must do to ensure the protection of life and property or this country is gradually heading for another civil war,” the source said.

The source explained further that the wife of the slain old man was shot in the thigh but did not die and was receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital.

He added that operatives of the JTF were able to get the assailants through their mobile phones, which they left at the scene.

Another eyewitness told the Nigerian Tribune that the attackers ran into a neighbouring house to attack its occupants, but were caught by the JTF operatives.

Confirming the incident, JTF spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Ifijeh Mohammed said gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members attacked and killed two persons in the area.

He said as soon as they were alerted to the attack, they quickly cordoned off the area and began a search that yielded the arrest of the suspects.

Mohammed, while explaining further, said two of the suspected sect members who attempted to escape were shot dead.

The JTF spokesperson also confirmed an explosion which rocked Customs area almost about the same time the family was attacked. He, however, said no lives were lost in the explosion.

It will be recalled that Christians in the state had said that they would not be deterred by the evil act of Boko Haram, that would continue to pray for the state and the nation as a whole so that God’s mercies would flow and for people to turn to God in the New Year.

According to Christians who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune, they heard that Boko Haram was planning massive destruction of lives and properties in places of worship, as well as security offices across some states, but that no amount of threat by any group in whatever name would make them abandon their faith or flee.

“It is God that gives life and it is only God that can take life; even the Muslims know this. This is not the first time Christians are being persecuted. In fact, persecution is part of Christian living, because even Christ was persecuted, as such let it be clear to the Boko Haram that we are not deterred, when they raise the arms of men to fight us because of our belief.

“The plan to destroy Christianity did not begin in Borno, Damaturu or anywhere they are thinking. Yet Christianity has flourished many years before Islam when much persecution was done to the Christians of the old time; we are confident in our belief and God will fight our battles,” Yonnana Manzo told the Nigerian Tribune.

Meanwhile, the Borno State Police Commissioner, Mr Simeon Midenda, has called on the public to disregard the rumour doing the rounds that Christians and southerners should pack and leave the state or risk being killed.

Meanwhile, an explosion was, on Wednesday, reported in an area known as “Khandahar” in Damaturu, the Yobe caiptal.

The explosion was coming four days after the Federal Government declared a state of emergency in five local government areas of the state.

Alhaji Lawal Tanko, the State Commissioner of Police, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview, saying, “we are still trying to get the details. You know, it is night and we cannot get all the details now.”

A resident of the area who preferred anonymity said “we were lucky the explosion was not the usual big type that was witnessed in the past.

“It was not very loud. But we have got the extent of damage.”

-Tribunewp_posts