The Islamic sect, Boko Haram, yesterday, slaughtered 74 men and 20 young boys at Njaba Village in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State for refusing to join the insurgents.
There was, however, no official confirmation from either police or military authorities on the claims by residents of both Damboa and Chibok, where over 200 schoolgirls were abducted early last year.
It was gathered from some security operatives that some of the insurgents, led by a commander, Sidi Babangida, also known as Abu Sid, who had been on the wanted list of security operatives, was said to have attempted taking Damboa town on two occasions, but failed and had been recruiting more fighters for the sect in and around Damboa and Gujba Local Government areas in Borno and Yobe states.
A security source, who spoke on grounds of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the issue, said they received the news of the attack and killing of 74 men and 20 children, but added that there was no official report on the incident as security operatives had been detailed to Damboa area to authenticate the claim by locals.
The source said: “At times, when reports like these come to us, it turns out to be true because the locals naturally tell security operatives of happenings around them.
“They have been very helpful. There was report earlier by some local traders that they saw the sect members holding a meeting after they had been dislodged from Gujba and Damboa is next to Gujba, along Yobe and Borno border.
“So it may be true. But try to speak with the commissioner. He may oblige you more on that.”
When we tried calling the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jibril, his phone was busy and when this reporter visited the police headquarters in Maiduguri for confirmation, the PPRO and Police Commissioner were said to be out on assignments.
