Boko Haram terrorists on Tuesday attacked a community and burnt down a school, healthcare centre and a military base before hoisting their flag at the military base in Katarko, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
According to sources, the insurgents stormed the town in the early hours while the villagers were going for morning prayers at the mosque and started shooting indiscriminately; though no life was lost, the terrorists burnt the military base at the entrance to the town.
A resident of the community, simply identified as Fannami, stated, “The terrorists drove in gun trucks and headed straight for the military base and opened fire on the soldiers. The soldiers fled and the terrorists drove into the town. That was around 5am, when we were going for Alfijir prayers in the mosque.
“When we heard their chanting of Allahu Akbar and rapid gunshots, we became confused and abandoned the prayers. Some ran into the bush for safety, while many others locked themselves in their rooms. We only came back to our homes when we were certain that they had left. They operated for over one hour without any challenge or resistance from either the military or the locals.”
Fannami added that the insurgents went ahead to burn down a government primary school and the only community healthcare centre in the town before driving out unchallenged.
This is the second time the primary school will be burnt by insurgents as it was first set ablaze in 2013 and was later renovated by the Victim Support Fund.
The state Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Dr Abubakar Iliya, while speaking to newsmen in Damaturu confirmed that no life was lost in the attack, but properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.
“We have gone to Katarko to assess the level of damage caused by the insurgents and I can confirm that no life was lost to the attack, but they destroyed public infrastructure. We will prepare our report for the governor and then move in to repair the destroyed infrastructure,” Iliya stated.
Copyright PUNCH.
