Survival claims last Friday Attack On Worshippers Was A Revenge Mission

A survival from last Friday insurgents attack on Muslim worshippers in Buni Gari in Gujba LGA of Yobe State has claimed it was a revenge mission.

The survival, who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, said the dreaded Islamist sect, popularly known as Boko Haram, stormed the area and threw explosives at worshippers who were observing Maghrib (sunset) prayers around 7pm.

According to the survival, the sect members who came in their dozens rounded up and killed worshippers.

The village, which is about 100 kilometres from the state capital, Damaturu, has been constantly attacked in recent time by Boko Haram members, crippling the social and economic life of the residents.

“The worst part of our predicament is that, like what happened during previous attacks, there was no resistance from security operatives in the village. The soldiers and the policemen simply disappeared soon after the militants fired the first shot,” Abubakar Yadi, a survival said.

According to Yadi, the sect members had earlier rounded up the mosque and revealed to the worshippers their mission.

“They (Boko Haram) were angry with us. They reminded us that we trailed three of their members sometime ago…killed one, handed over the second to soldiers and the third one narrowly escaped. They said it was an affront and disrespectful and therefore the whole village must pay a price. They threw explosives into the mosque which killed nearly 20 people” Yadi said.

Mallam Mohammed, who is also a resident, disclosed that those who escaped the blast were shot with Ak47 rifles.

“We are yet to see some of our people, including women and children who fled into the bushes” Mohammed said. “It was gathered that over 60 percent of the eastern part of Buni Gari was destroyed by the attackers who set most of the houses ablaze. Sources said over 200 brick, mud and thatched houses were destroyed. Over 40 vehicles were burnt at the motor park. They also destroyed shops, stalls and other property’’.

Another resident, Bala Baba, who hinted he had relocated his family to Damaturu, said; “They moved from one area to another and took their time to wreak havoc. The life of over 10, 000 people in Buni Gari is threatened. They vowed that they would force us into extinction for daring them.”

He further revealed that military operatives only returned to the village after the assailants had left.

Sanusi A Rufa’I, the State Police Commissioner confirmed that about 10 people died inside the mosques while 10 others were currently receiving medical attention in the state hospital.

The commissioner could not ascertain if those that sustained bullet wounds later died in their homes or hospital.

Rufa’I said over 100 houses, 40 cars and 4 tricycles machines were burnt during the attack.