Survivors of Sunday’s attack in Konduga, one of the three communities attacked by suspected members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect in Borno State, Tuesday recounted their ordeal, claiming that the gunmen surrounded their mosques and shot sporadically at them.
They also said at the end of the shooting spree, they were left with the burden of burying 52 persons, 47 of whom were villagers, while five others were members of the sect who were hacked down during the confrontation with the military and youth vigilante groups.
The villagers also revealed that
26 persons were critically injured during the attacks and were receiving treatment in a Maiduguri hospital.
The villagers recounted their ordeal just as the Nigeria Police Force said yesterday that it had launched an investigation into the attacks on Konduga and other communities at the weekend.
Also, the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister, Mr. Mark Simmonds, has condemned what he described as the senseless killings of worshippers at Borno mosques where at least 60 people were reported to have died.
It is believed that an estimated 60 persons were killed when the outlawed sect launched attacks on communities in Konduga and Mafa Local Government Areas of Borno State.
The sect members had claimed that the villagers were assisting both the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the youth vigilante groups to hunt down their members.
The survivors of the incident in Tsohuwar Kasuwa (old market) community of Konduga told journalists during the condolence visit by the Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima to the area, that the gunmen surrounded the village and attacked people in various mosques during the 4.30 am prayer.
The villagers said the gunmen were about 200 and comprised mainly men and a few women, who emerged from the bush and opened fire on the people.
The villagers added that most of the attackers were dressed in military camouflage and fatigues.
The district head of the area, Zanna Masu Yale, told the governor that 43 corpses of innocent villagers were initially discovered immediately after the attack, but four other bodies were later discovered. Another five corpses believed to have been those of the insurgents were also discovered.
Yale said the assailants came in seven Golf Volkswagen cars and deployed sophisticated weapons. He added that the gunmen attacked various mosques in the town.
He also told the governor that about 50 houses, two cars and scores of motorcycles were burnt down in the town.
“While the men among the attackers were busy killing people, the women participated in the burning of houses,” Modu Kolo, a survivor told journalists.
He said the burning of houses was used as a decoy for their escape, insisting that the women had set the houses ablaze when male assailants were being pursued by the few soldiers and the youth volunteer groups who came out to repel the insurgents.
Mohammed Muktar, a 20-year-old man, said his father was shot dead while performing ablution in front of a mosque.
Another villager, Goni Bukar, said his wife was killed inside his house while seven of his children were still missing.
Shettima, while condoling with the people, announced a donation of N250,000 to each of the families of the 43 people killed.
He also donated N5 million and four vehicles to boost the activities of the youth vigilante groups known as the Civilian JTF.
Shettima, who addressed the people in Kanuri, said the cash donation was a palliative measure to cushion the hardship they were facing as a result of the death of their loved ones.
Those whose houses were burnt were also given cash gifts of between N100,000 and N400,000.
Shettima urged the people to continue praying for the full restoration of peace in the state.
“What happened to us is unfortunate and you should understand that whatever happened to you affects us all and we identify with you at this hour of grief,” he told the people. He also set up a committee headed by the legislator representing the area in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Ali Dalori, to advise him on modalities to make the place secure and on the compensation to pay to families of the victims.
In reaction to the attacks, the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister has condemned what he described as the senseless killings of worshippers at Borno mosques where scores of people were reported to have died.
Simmonds, in a statement issued yesterday, offered condolences to all those affected by the incident.
“Attacking innocent people in a place of worship is a contemptible and cowardly act. My thoughts are with all those who were caught up in the attack, and their families.
“The UK stands with the government and people of Nigeria as they seek to reduce violence in the North-east of the country,” the statement read.
In the meantime, the federal government yesterday expressed sorrow over the fact that the lingering Boko Haram insurgency in some parts of the north, where thousands of persons have been brutally killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed, has ruined the reputation of the country.
The government also said the President Goodluck Jonathan administration must not be blamed by Nigerians for the level of violence in the country, pointing out that the president had done everything humanly possible to nip in the bud the insurgency.
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