Suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists have launched a deadly attack on the Wumbi community in Kala-Balge Local Government Area of Borno State, killing a local vigilante commander and four civilians while leaving several others injured.
Wumbi, an agrarian community sharing borders with the Republic of Cameroon, had previously been deserted due to incessant insurgent attacks.
However, residents had recently begun returning to cultivate their fields under the protection of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and local vigilantes.
According to sources, on Wednesday night, the terrorists orchestrated a premeditated attack, arriving in large numbers specifically to target the vigilante commander, who had posed a significant obstacle to their operations in the area.
During the ambush, most of the farmers managed to flee.
However, the commander stayed behind to hold off the attackers.
According to a fellow vigilante who spoke on condition of anonymity, the outnumbered commander was eventually overpowered after the assailants realized gunfire could not penetrate his protective charms, resorting instead to breaking his neck.
However, the tragedy deepened when community members and security personnel mobilized to recover the commander’s body.
“As they approached the remains, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that had been buried beneath the commander’s corpse were detonated, killing four more people and injuring several members of the Vigilantes, CJTF, and innocent civilians,” he sais.
The Borno State Police Command confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, ASP Kenneth Daso, who stated that the vigilante commander and four others lost their lives during the encounter with the insurgents.
He noted that while initial information was still sketchy, further details would be provided in due course.
Hon. Mustapha Babani, the APC candidate for the Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge Federal Constituency, visited the area to commiserate with the affected families.
