by James Sambo

A fresh Boko Haram attack on the town of Shani in Borno State, which happened on Saturday night, may have claimed the lives of scores of residents of the town. Shani is situated about 260 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the state capital, and shares borders with some communities in neighbouring Adamawa State.

Residents of the town who were lucky to escape the terrorists’ siege disclosed that over 30 Boko Haram gunmen stormed the town on motorcycles Saturday night.

“The terrorists came at about 8 pm and started shooting at everything in sight. The gunshots were deafening and kept approaching my house that I had to run into the bush with my grown- up children,” one of the fleeing residents, Elijah Ibrahim, told reporters.

According to him, “I had to however leave my wife and my little children behind believing they would do them no harm. I slept in the bush with two grown-up ones and without going back into the town proceeded to Biu this morning (Sunday).”

Ibrahim further disclosed that the insurgents set many houses ablaze forcing the residents to scamper for safety, saying it has been difficult for him to get in touch with his wife and children he left behind in the town since Saturday night.

Military sources in Biu confirmed the attack, saying the terrorists also torched a police station and other public buildings in the town.

The state police commissioner, Clement Adoda, also confirmed the attack on Shani while speaking with journalists in Maiduguri, saying though several property were destroyed by the insurgents, no life was lost.

YEditor