Boko Haram Members Burn Church, Police Station, 5 Dead

Gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram, weekend, stormed New Marte, Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, where they killed a Police Sergeant (names withheld), and two civilians.

The gunmen also set ablaze the Divisional Police Headquarters, Cocin Church and the residence of the Unit Commandant of the Army. Five vehicles parked in the premises of the police station were also burnt.

Meanwhile, two persons were killed, yesterday, in Ummarari and Gwange wards of Maiduguri metropolis by suspected terrorists.

Vanguard gathered that some suspected terrorists had trailed their victim to his house at Ummarari ward and when he was about entering his gate at about 7:30pm, Saturday, they shot him twice in the head and he died immediately.

The attack at Gwange, it was learnt, took place Saturday night, when the deceased, who just came from Kaduna, was sleeping at their family house at Layin Bridge of Gwange area.

For the Marte attacks, it was gathered that the gunmen came in three Golf saloon cars and eight motorcycles and when they arrived the town, the residents scampered for safety as multiple explosions and gunshots rented the air.

An eyewitness, who narrowly escaped the attack told newsmen in a telephone call that “the terrorists overpowered the police and other security agencies as both the police and the army ran out of arms and ammunition during the four-hour battle with the attackers.

He said when the security agencies realised that they had run out of ammunition, they immediately called for reinforcement from the Monguno military barracks in Monguno Local Government Area. Help came too late.

But due to network and communication problem, the terrorists executed their mission and left before the arrival of additional troops.
Already, the remains of the police sergeant have been conveyed to mortuary in Maiduguri, awaiting burial.

Confirming the incident, a highly placed security officer, who does not want his name in print, told newsmen that there was an attack in New Marte over the weekend by suspected members of Boko Haram sect, where they killed a police officer and two civilians, while some places were equally razed by the hoodlums.