…President Buhari mourns victims of terror
Thirty-two (32) persons are believed to be the number of victims killed by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists around Mudu village, some 45 kilometres away from Rann, headquarters of Kala-Balge local government area of Borno State, last weekend.
Governor Babagana Zulum’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, confirmed the figure in an update released to newsmen yesterday, in Maiduguri, the State capital.
The statement also confirmed that six persons were injured while two escaped the attack unhurt.
Gusau said, “Governor Babagana Umara Zulum is very disturbed by the unfortunate killing of fellow citizens at the weekend. Pending a full report, the governor was briefed by the Majority Leader of Borno State House of Assembly, Mohammed Dige, who represents Kala-Balge where the victims hailed from.
“From the lawmaker’s briefing, a total of 32 youths are believed to have been killed by the insurgents. The youths were not farmers, but highly enterprising young men engaged in gathering metals popularly called ‘Kayan Ajaokuta’, which are sold as raw materials for steel production.
“The victims were said to have gone to a deserted Mudu village in Dikwa LGA, which is 45 kilometres away from Rann in Kala-Bakge, in search of the raw materials; but in the process, they were unfortunately ambushed by the insurgents. Six persons were injured during the ambush while two escaped unhurt”.
“A team of soldiers, alongside the Chairman of Kala-Balge LGA, on Tuesday, recovered 14 bodies of victims who were apparently tied and shot at close range”, the spokesman added.
Also reacting, President Muhammadu Buhari has described as ‘senseless’ the loss of lives seen in Borno State as well as Katsina State over the last 48 hours.
According to an issued statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari, while assuring that he holds the victims in his thoughts and prayers, vowed that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.
