ZULUM PASSES NIGHT IN DAMASAK AFTER BOKO HARAM ATTACK
* Meets Soldiers, Re-equips Security With 12 APC, Patrol Vehicles
* Told by Residents that 18 persons died and that Insurgents attacked with three gun trucks.
* Those who fled to Niger Republic Now Returning Home
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum was in Damasak, from Thursday to Friday, after the town was attacked on Tuesday, by Boko Haram insurgents, killing 18 persons and injuring 21.
Zulum traveled alongside Senator Abubakar Kyari representing Borno north, member of house of representatives, representing
Mobbar, Guzamala, and Abadam,Bukar Gana Kareto and some officials.
The Governor held operational meeting with soldiers and other security forces after which he presented 12 security vehicles which include an armoured personnel carrier (APC), and 11 patrol vehicles, to strengthen armed forces and volunteers made up of trained youths in the civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes, helping in the fight against insurgents.
Damasak, headquarter of Mobbar local government area in northern Borno, is located in the fringes of Lake Chad, and it shares border with communities in Niger Republic. The town used to be a producer and exporter of vegetables to target markets within Nigeria, Niger republic and other neighboring countries. Boko Haram had occupied Damasak in 2014 as one of their caliphate, and the insurgents seem interested in the town, apparently for strategic access to raising funds through agriculture and for land routes to Niger republic.
The Governor interacted with residents, empathized with them and assessed destructions caused by insurgents. Thousands of residents who had fled to border communities in Niger republic returned on Friday.
Governor Zulum confirmed from residents, that 18 people had died, 21 injured, and he saw several property destroyed.
The UN humanitarian hub, private residential houses, a police station, palace of the district head, a primary healthcare centre, and a GSM village were among property destroyed.
The insurgents attacked the town with three gun-trucks, residents told Governor Zulum.
Tuesday’s attack on Damasak was the sixth in two weeks, by the Boko Haram/ISWAP groups, residents recalled.
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