Boko Haram displaces thousands in Adamawa, kidnaps 20

Abiodun OBA

No fewer than 5,000 people have been displaced with about 20 people, including women and children kidnapped when Boko Haram gunmen attacked a community in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa on Friday.

The Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, executive secretary, Dr Mohammed Sulaiman,  who made this known in Yola on Sunday, noted that the displacement affected many other neighbouring communities in the area.

Sulaiman recalled that the insurgents came in nine vehicles on Friday to attack Kwapre village in Dugwaba District of Hong Local Government Area adding that the insurgents surrounded the village and killed seven people, including three children.

“During the attack, 50 houses, worship centres, markets and schools were burnt.

“Many people, including women, girls and men, were kidnapped by the attackers.

”However, we received a report that eight persons among the kidnapped victims escaped.

“The displaced during the attack are taking refuge in nearby villages,” he said.

Mr Simon Yakubu, the District Head of Dugwaba, said in Yola that the attackers invaded the village at about 1 p.m. and started shooting.

“During the attack that lasted for more than two hours, more than 20 persons are injured and no fewer than 20 persons are kidnapped by the attackers.

“Places of worship, schools, shops food stores and village head house were destroyed,” Yakubu said.

He said that the injured had been receiving treatment at Hong General Hospital, while two persons who were critically injured by gunshot had been referred to Federal Medical Centre, Yola.

According to him, many villages in Dugwaba district, including Kwapre are few kilometres away from Sambisa forest where insurgents use for attacks.
He also recalled that in 2014, Kwapre village was attacked and destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents.

Mr. James Pukuma, Chairman, Hong Local Government Area, said that normalcy has since returned to the area as security and local security groups had been deployed to protect lives and property.

He called on the people of the area to be vigilant and report any suspicious move to the nearest security agency for quick response.

Police Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Adamawa, DSP Sulaiman Nguroje, confirmed the attack.