ISWAP burns new houses allocated to IDPs in Borno

By Abiodun OBA

The newly constructed and allocated houses given to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, unveiled by Governor Babagana Zulum recently have been razed by a group of Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, fighters.

The group of 25 ISWAP fighters, led by its commander, Mustapha Ali, and chief bomb maker, Abdulrahman, invaded Logomani village of Gajibo in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State to carry out the dastardly act.

A source said: “These insurgents, affiliated to ISWAP, deliberately set fire on houses that had been recently constructed under the supervision of Governor Zulum.”

Although no life was lost, the source said the attack took place, yesterday (Wednesday) night, when the terrorists entered Gajibo communities and set on fire many of the new houses before quickly withdrawing from the area.

This is coming barely 48 hours after some insurgents laid ambush on firewood scavengers on the outskirts of neighbouring Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area of the state, bordering Cameroun Republic and kidnapped over 100 women.

It was gathered that the affected residential houses were built as a collaborative effort between the Borno State Government and United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, aimed at providing shelter for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The latest attack was also confirmed by Zagazola Makama, a counter insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad, who said, “The ISWAP’s attack was strategically aimed at the government’s new structures.

“This act of arson was a direct response to the Borno State Government’s initiative to resettle IDPs in Logomani and Gajibo communities.”

It also gathered that the terrorists were joined by Abdulrahaman, the ISWAP chief bomb maker, who was responsible for planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along the roads, intending to target Nigerian troops.

However, one of these IEDs prematurely detonated, killing several cows owned by Fulani herdsmen instead.

The sources also revealed that ISWAP has deployed additional bomb experts, such as Abuwar Bizi and Man Ba’ana, also known as “Government House,” who had received IED training in Somalia.

These experts have been planting IEDs indiscriminately along the road in Gamborun Ngala, posing a significant threat to the safety of the area.