In a disturbing development highlighting a renewed wave of insecurity in Borno state, northeastern Nigeria, attacks by Boko Haram terrorists have in the past 24 hours claimed the lives of a police officer, a prominent Islamic cleric, and one other person....CONTINUE READING
These incidents have sparked growing concerns about the worsening security situation in the state.
Inspector Luka, attached to MOPOL 53, was mercilessly killed on his farm in the Mohammed Indimi Estate, Bama town, on Monday, Oct. 30.
The assailants, believed to be Boko Haram insurgents, ambushed and disarmed him of his rifle, stripped off his uniform, and left his lifeless body clad only in shorts.
The tragedy highlights a distressing trend in the area, as more police officers have resorted to farming to supplement their incomes, which has made them easy targets for terrorists who lie in wait to launch brazen attacks, aiming to seize their uniforms and rifles.
A source at the Borno State police command headquarters informed HumAngle off the record that Inspector Luka’s murder followed a similar incident earlier this month when another police officer was killed on his farm.
In a separate incident, the Chief Imam of Kaga, Imam Goni Muktar, and a local vigilante were brutally murdered by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
Sources familiar with the incident said at about 12:30 a.m. on Monday, the assailants stormed the imam’s residence in Malamti, a suburb of Benishek, in a Volkswagen Golf car.
A source from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) says the motive behind the targeted attack remains unknown, even though it bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram’s dark days of wanton killings.
“Today, some gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram raided the house of Goni Muktar, the Chief Imam of Kaga, killing him,” the source said. “They also abducted one of the vigilantes on duty, which marks the second time in two months that a chief imam has been killed in Kaga,” they added.
These distressing incidents indicate a relapse in security and a resurgence of Boko Haram activities in Borno State.
Official comments from the Borno state police command could not be obtained as the phone number of the Police PRO was unreachable at the time of filing this report.
