… Survivors, officials recount attack
From TIMOTHY OLANREWAJU, Maiduguri
Konduga, a serene community in Borno Central again witnessed another violence on Tuesday evening as suspected Boko Haram insurgents stormed the town, killing at least 51 people.
Residents and local officials said all the dead were buried yesterday. Many are still missing even as the insurgents abducted 25 ladies from the community market and two public schools; the state-owned Ashigar College of Business and Administrative Studies as well as Government Girls’ College.
Survivors and the officials who spoke to journalists yesterday during a visit to the place painted a gory picture of the attack which Gov Kashim Shettima described as “barbaric and unfortunate.” Chairman of Konduga Local Government, Alhaji Lawan Gana Ngaleri, while conducting the governor round the town, could barely express the situation, as he was downcast and heartbroken. He said the attackers came at about 4.30pm in a convoy of vehicles.
A middle-age man who did not want his name in print said the insurgents arrived in many Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) mounted with high calibre guns, shooting into the market. “Tuesday was our market day and it was as if they targeted the day. They were in military uniform (camouflage) and wore turban and canvass. I saw seven of them throwing bomb (explosive devices) into houses and one of them was on top of a tree shooting from there,” he disclosed. He said he ran into the bush and could not recall the tragic events that followed.
Ya Kaka, a housewife, said she was in the market when the shooting started. She said she ran into her house but later came out and rushed into a nearby bush to hide when she discovered the neighbouring houses were on fire. “We were happy and peaceful until the Boko Haram people came yesterday (Tuesday). They changed our world and everything turned upside down. We don’t know where to go now,; no food, we’ve lost everything. All our children are gone. Some were killed and we can’t even find some of them now,” she lamented as reported kept consoling him.
Sali Umar, another resident, said he was in his shop when he noticed some vehicles coming into the heart of the town. He said he hid somewhere around the shop until it dawned on him that a big problem was ahead. “I knew then a black day was ahead of us,” he stated.
A teacher, Yana Kwada, said the insurgents abducted 25 girls from the market and schools. He said women, children and residents ran helter skelter as the Islamists threw bombs in different directions. “Some youth volunteers pursued them but they were overpowered because the attackers were many and carried powerful weapons,” another resident also said, claiming that soldiers fought the insurgents but ran out of bullets.
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