by ‘Jola Sotubo

Not less than eighteen persons have been reported dead in Borno and Kaduna states following alleged attacks by the terrorist sect, Boko Haram.

Seven of the victims were reportedly killed in Borno when suspected members of the sect attacked Gava West, a village behind Mandara Mountains in the Gwoza area of the state while the remaining 11 victims lost their lives in an attack on Zangang village in Attakar Chiefdom, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

In the Borno attack, many houses were reportedly also burnt as members of the sect overran the entire area. The villagers reportedly ran to Cameroon.

It was also gathered that some of the villagers took refuge in Madagali town. But they were said to have been chased out by the invaders. The fleeing villagers stated that the same group had attacked Gwoza town on Friday killing no fewer than nine people.

The Executive Director of Stefanos Foundation, Mr. Mark Lipdo, said he had been inundated with calls from distressed villagers, who said only an aerial attack would save them from the fury of the members of the sect, who had subjected Gwoza to continuous bombardment.

In Kaduna, the News Agency of Nigeria reports that the gunmen attacked the village early in the morning, leaving several houses completely burnt.

A resident of the village, Isuwa Jiga,said more corpses were likely to be discovered as many residents were still missing.

“We have not seen some of our family members yet,’’ Jiga said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP. Aminu Lawal, confirmed the incident.