Insurgents suspected to be members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect on Friday evening invaded Sabon Gari village of Damboa local government area of Borno State and killed 17 residents and burnt down over 100 houses, shops, motorcycles and vehicles.
The Sabon Gari Main Market was also burnt down and property worth millions of naira destroyed. A report claims that the villagers killed two of the attackers with the assistance of some vigilante groups, while three others who fled to Damboa town were arrested.
Sabon Gari is off Sambisa Game Forests on the Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu federal highway.
LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that the whole village was deserted as the houses and shops went in flames without any assistance from security men or fire fighters.
A resident who did not want his name mentioned told LEADERSHIP Sunday that the terrorists invaded the community at 11:35pm using several motorcycles and Hilux Toyota vehicles, and fired gunshots on fleeing residents, set houses, shops and vehicles ablaze.
Another resident with three wives and 21 children who gave his name as Mallam Mamman Yahaya was seen helping his family members into a truck heading towards Biu local government area from Maiduguri. He said: “We have seen what we have never dreamt of in this village. Yesterday (Friday) at 11:34pm my family members had retired to bed. Suddenly, we started hearing some people chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great) and opening sporadic gunshots on residents with the setting ablaze of houses, shops and vehicles.
“As I am talking to you, I am parking out of this village with my family. I lost one of my uncles in the incident, and I have no reason to stay in this place again. The attackers said they will still come back to wipe out everybody next week.”
