Boko Haram,Celebrate Independence Day in Adamawa

Residents of Kirchinga, the hometown of

former acting governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, celebrated the independence anniversary of Nigeria in anguish as Boko Haram insurgents slit the throat of seven residents of the area in an early morning attack.

Reports also indicated that before the October 1, attack on Kirchinga, the insurgents have earlier attacked Bitiku and Kubu villages on Wednesday evening killing four persons.

The immediate past chairman of Madagali, Maina Ularamu, confirmed the attacks, calling for deployment of troops

“The insurgents attacked a group of traders returning from Gulak market and killed four of them before proceeding to Kirchinga where they slaughtered seven persons including three women,” he said.

Kirchinga village in Madagali local government of Adamawa State which recorded the deadliest attack also shares border with the dreaded Sambisa forest which was one of the areas early annexed by Boko Haram insurgents last year before they were routed by Nigerian troops in a counter insurgency operation.

A resident of the area in a telephone chat with our reporter said the insurgents struck the village at about 12:30am on Thursday and started firing sporadically and setting buildings ablaze making residents to flee into nearby bushes.

A resident who preferred anonymity added that the insurgents slaughtered five trapped people including three women and two men as the onslaught lasted.

“The insurgents struck Kirchinga at about 12:30 Thursday morning and immediately started firing shots and setting houses ablaze.

“They slaughtered five trapped people like rams including three women and two men. We are now in deep sorrow,” the source disclosed.

He added that the insurgents had a field day for many hours as they operated unchallenged as a result of complete absence of security personnel in the area.

Another resident of the area, Zira Yaduma, accused the government of leaving them to their own fate as he noted that there was complete absence of security personnel in the area.

“We want the government to deploy more security personnel for us because as Nigerians, the government owes us a duty to protect us,” he said.

“The fact that our area share borders with Sambisa forest and Cameroon republic should have been enough reason why government must deploy security personnel to protect us. If the government did not take proactive measures to stem the ugly insurrection of insurgents into our domain, they will kill all of us,” Yaduma added.

Yaduma added that already people are fleeing the area en mass to Madagali for fear of their lives as they anticipated more attacks from the Boko Haram insurgents following absence of security personnel.

Confirming the incident, member representing Michika/Madagali federal constituency Rep Adamu Kamale blamed the Federal Government for the wanton destruction of lives and properties as he said it has been paying lip service to the security of the people of the area.

He noted that while other parts of Nigeria are in jubilation mood over Nigeria’s independence anniversary, his people are mourning and counting the wanton massacre of their loved ones.

“While others are in celebration mood, we spent the night mourning the unwarranted killings of our people. We need more security personnel as our villages share borders with Sambisa forest.

“The federal government was doing nothing in the past four months to secure our people as security is degenerating by the day. The security personnel are even compounding our predicaments as what they are saying on the pages of newspapers was contrary to was is happening on ground,” Kamale added.