as villagers use traditional fighting equipment and charms
to repel the attacks.
Almost 200 suspected members of the Boko Haram were
killed today by residents of Rann, the headquarters of
Kala-Balge local government area in north eastern part of
Borno State, officials and locals from the area said.
Sources said the insurgents, numbering over 300 stormed
Rann and adjoining villages around 4am today but met
resistance from the people who had knowledge of the
impending attack.
This is the second attempt by Boko Haram insurgents on
Rann. A similar one was waged by the attackers some
month ago but retreated when they reportedly found it
difficult to penetrate the town.
It was however gathered that this time around, the
insurgents had succeeded in entering Rann where they
killed some people and burnt some houses but reportedly
recorded the worst casualty.
"The people in Rann and environs used traditional fighting
equipment and charms to repel the attacks...they really
confronted the attackers who were equally ready for fight,"
a source said.
A state legislator from Central Borno, who does not want
his name mentioned, confirmed the attack, pointing out that
the locals had successfully repelled.
?The villagers succeeded in protecting their dwellings from
the attackers. They killed about 200 members of the sect
and many others escaped with serious wounds.
?Our people also recovered over 70 motorcycles that the
attackers came with. They also collected 2 Hilux vehicles
and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) while some of the
attackers were captured alive,? he said.
At the Gamboru Motor Park along the Customs area in
Maiduguri, some people that came from the area said the
insurgents were defeated in Rann during confrontations that
lasted many hours.
Borno State police commissioner, Lawan Tanko said he was
not aware of the attack.
?The only information I heard today is that the insurgents
have been sighted around Hamchika-Kala Balge road. We
have informed sister agencies of the development,? he said.
It is not yet clear whether the insurgents are heading
towards Kala-Balge for a renewed attack. GSM services in
the area have been vandalized by insurgents over two years
ago and locals in the area rely on Cameroonian telephone
facilities to reach out.
Kala-Balge lies along the Shores of the Lake Chad and is
few kilometers away from Gamboru town where suspected
insurgents killed nearly 400 people last week and destroyed
over 300 vehicles, 650 motorcycles, dozens of residential
houses, public buildings and the biggest market in the town
that shares border with Cameroon.
It was learnt that people of Kala-Balge have used various
methods, including prayers in protecting their town.
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
