BEVERLY HILLS, CA, January 19, (THEWILL) – Gashigar, a Borno village that shares boundary with the Niger Republic, is now deserted as many residents of the fishing community are currently living in Nigerien villages as refugees.
The development followed incessant Boko Haram attacks on the village which have so far left 15 residents dead.
In a recent attack, seven persons were killed while over 60 shops and eight vehicles were razed by the gunmen on Thursday night at about 7pm.
Though the villagers have complained of the absence of security operatives in the community, the Borno State Police Command which confirmed the incident, refuted the villagers claim.
“It is not correct that we don’t have police formation in Mobbar Local Government and surrounding villages; if their claim is true, then how come we are confirming the incident to you? The report got to the table of our State Commissioner of Police within the shortest possible time after it took place , “ the Police Public Relations Officer, Gideon Jibrin said, adding that apart from the seven persons that were killed, “three others who were running out of fear got drowned in the river.”
The attack on Gashigar came about four days after a similar one was made on two neighbouring villages where Boko Haram also attacked and killed five persons.
The immediate former vice chairman of Mobbar Local Government, Alhaji Talba Gashigar, said the gunmen attacked their village at about 7pm on Thursday and began shooting sporadically and setting shops and vehicles ablaze.
“It happened on Thursday at about 7pm, after some gunmen invaded our town driving three vehicles and many motorcycles, and drove straight to the market area and began shooting and setting shops ablaze.
“We had to flee for our dear lives because the gunmen came in troops and there were no security personnel in our locality. We ran across the borders into the Cameroonian villages but seven of our fellow villagers were shot dead; and over 60 houses and shops were also burnt down completely .
“They spent about two hours operating in the town, about eight cars were also burnt. Unfortunately our town has no security operatives to protect us. Right from Damasak the Local Government headquarters of Mobbar, through Gashigar and up to Malumfatori town of Abadam Local Government; there is no single government security personnel guarding or protecting about six villages in between. You should know that from Damasak to Gashigar is about 50km of dusty Sharan desert road and half way before you get to Dusi, there is a feeder road that lead to Damasak near Diffa border town of Niger Republic .
“We are in a state of fear and confusion now, we cannot sleep in the villages here on the Nigerian side; once dusk begins to set in, everyone locks up and cross the borders to Diffa. Most of us board our canoes and cross over the river boundary and passed the night in Diffa .
“The attack on us has been very frequent lately, just last week Sunday they attacked the villages of Yawuma-ango and Jabulam at night and killed five persons there; three at Yawuma-ango and two in Jabulam, “ he said.
Gashigar appealed to the state government to step in and assist the local youth vigilante, known as Civilian JTF, currently the current security force operating in the area.
“We know the reason for these attack is because our young men had joined the Civilian-JTF and the Boko Haram is not happy about it; perhaps that is why they are attacking us in this manner”, he lamented.
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