The chairman of Hong Local Government Area in Adamawa State, Usman Inuwa, has confirmed that Boko Haram last week killed 14 people in two villages in the council’s area.
Inuwa, who spoke exclusively to The PUNCH on Friday, said that Boko Haram invaded two villages, Mubang and Zar, at night, killing 14 people and shooting two other people who, according to the chairman, are receiving treatment in the hospital.
“At about 9pm on that day, which I cannot vividly recall, Boko Haram invaded Mubang and Zar villages, which are close to Sambisa forest, they killed 14 people, shot two people and burnt dozens of houses with foodstuffs, ” he said.
“These villages are located near Sambisa forest, and there are no other villages in between; it is a vast, empty land, so Boko Haram takes advantage of the ungoverned spaces to attack and kill innocent people,” he stated
Inuwa said that he usually organised a combined team of military and vigilantes to guard the area and that the Boko Haram were always repelled when they attempted to attack.
The Hong LG chairman added, “The closeness of these two villages to the Sambisa forest is a big problem, unless the Federal Government deployed airforce to carry out air strikes in the area occupied by the Boko Haram.”
Inuwa said, “The army should be stationed in the area, while airforce carryout air strikes, this will end the continuous attack on the two villages by the Boko Haram.’
“Last December alone, Boko Haram made three unsuccessful attempts to attack the two villages, but a combined team of army and vigilantes repelled them; unfortunately, this time they succeeded,” he stated.
Inuwa said that only the intervention of the Federal Government can stop the Boko Haram attack on Mubang and Zar villages in Hong LG.
The Adamawa State chairman of Christians Association of Nigeria, Dr. Joe Manzo, after several attempt to get him on phone failed, he sent a message, ” I couldn’t pick your call because I am closely engaged with visitors on assignment, so sorry about that.”
The House of Assembly member representing Uba-Gaya state constituency, which Mubang and Zar villages are part of, Mr Adum Alaba, did not pick up his phone calls before filing this report.
