In a horrifying attack suspected to be orchestrated by Boko Haram terrorists clad in military attire, 12 individuals lost their lives, and one person was abducted in the Gatamarwa and Tsiha communities of Chibok local government area in Borno State.
The spokesperson for the Borno State command, ASP Nahum Daso Kenneth, confirmed the incident, revealing that the assailants, armed and dressed as military personnel, unleashed a barrage of gunfire on the unsuspecting residents in the two communities.
“The gunmen shot sporadically at the people in the two communities. So far, 12 corpses were recovered and two were injured,” Kenneth stated.
In response to the atrocity, the police commissioner and other allied security agencies have initiated a discreet investigation to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Reports indicate that the terrorists descended upon Gatamarwa around 5 pm on New Year’s Day, catching the community off guard during their celebrations.
According to local sources, the assailants, heavily armed with AK-47 rifles, arrived on motorcycles and in Hilux vans, launching an attack on mourners returning from Gatamarwa. Subsequently, they targeted the nearby Tsiha community near Shikarkir, killing three individuals and abducting a young lady. The marauders, after looting foodstuffs, set houses ablaze, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
The communities now mourn the loss of lives and grapple with the aftermath of the ruthless attack, as security forces intensify efforts to track down and bring the criminal elements responsible for this heinous act to justice.