18 persons have been confirmed dead and 21 others injured after Boko Haram terrorists attacked Damasak town, in the Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno state on Tuesday, April 13.
Borno state Governor Babagana Zulum, disclosed this on Friday, April 16, during his condolence visit to Damasak, said robust measures were being put in place to avert future attacks on the community by the insurgents.
Governor Zulum, who was in the town from Thursday to Friday, travelled alongside Senator Abubakar Kyari representing Borno North, who hails from Damasak, and a member of House of Reps representing Mobbar, Guzamala, and Abadam, Bukar Gana Kareto and some officials.
The governor also held an operational meeting with soldiers and other security forces as part of measures 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, headquarters of the Mobbar local government area in northern Borno, is located on the fringes of Lake Chad, and it shares a border with communities in the Niger Republic. The town used to be a producer and exporter of vegetables to target markets within Nigeria, Niger republic and other neighbouring countries.
Boko Haram had occupied Damasak in 2014 as one of their caliphates. The insurgents seem interested in the town, apparently for strategic access to raising funds through agriculture and for land routes to the Niger republic.
Governor Zulum confirmed from residents, that 18 people had died, 21 injured, and he saw several properties that were destroyed.
The UN humanitarian hub, private residential houses, a police station, the palace of the district head, a primary healthcare centre, and a GSM Village were among the 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/ISWP groups, residents recalled.
The Governor directed the strengthening of agricultural activities in Damasak, and he assessed a rice farm which his administration facilitates, to enhance food security.
Curled: LIB