Scores of people, including insurgents, civilians, security operatives, and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have died following coordinated night attacks by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Pulka community of Gwoza Local Government Area and Benesheikh town, headquarters of Kaga Local Government Area, Borno State, reliable sources report.
In Pulka, initial investigations reveal that several facilities, including equipment and machinery belonging to the Decency Road Construction Firm, were set ablaze. Pulka currently hosts thousands of recently displaced people from Ngoshe, many of whom were forced to flee again due to the violence.
In Benesheikh town, insurgents struck around 1 a.m. on Thursday, setting fire to multiple trucks and commercial vehicles. The attack claimed the lives of motorists and passengers who had paused their journey to rest overnight, following the routine closure of the Maiduguri-Damaturu-Kano road. Sources also confirmed that troops neutralized scores of insurgents in the town, though some security personnel lost their lives, and several vehicles were taken by the attackers.
Hon. Zanna Ajimi, Chairman of Kaga Local Government, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, saying:
“We are in a difficult situation as Boko Haram wreaked havoc in Benesheikh. Presently, I cannot give you the exact number of casualties, but many of the insurgents, civilians, and security personnel were killed.”
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South), reacting to the Pulka attack and other ongoing security threats in Borno, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has declared a state of emergency in the security sector, to “walk the talk.”
Speaking to newsmen in Maiduguri, Ndume said:
“The military personnel are doing their best, but they don’t have enough fighting equipment to confront the terrorists. Unless President Tinubu leaves politicking and focuses on ending Boko Haram by equipping the military with fighter jets, drones, and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, the terrorists, who usually attack in large numbers, will continue to wreak havoc.”
He added:
“From the information at my disposal, the terrorists who came to Pulka in large numbers succeeded in killing some soldiers after troops ran out of ammunition. A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force also lost his life, while most of the equipment and machines belonging to Decency Road Construction Firm were set ablaze. Before invading Pulka, the terrorists killed one person in Warabe village after the community resisted the attack.”
Ndume commended the gallant efforts of troops and CJTF members, who initially repelled the attack, saving many lives, including those of displaced persons sheltering in Pulka. He extended condolences to the families of the deceased, prayed for the eternal rest of the departed, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.