Boko Haram kills 25 ‘civilian-JTF’ members in Borno

Twenty-five members of the volunteer youth vigilance group, popularly called civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), were killed by Boko Haram at the weekend in Borno State in counter-insurgency operations against the Islamist sect.

About 1, 000 youths, mostly members of the civilian JTF, had mobilized on Friday afternoon in over 30 vehicles to smoke out insurgents believed to be hiding at Mainok, a small community along Maiduguri-Damaturu Road, about 58 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.

The counter-insurgency operation, according to the youths, was informed by a tip-off from residents that many of the Boko Haram members who fled Maiduguri following persistent arrests and killings of the insurgents took refuge in Mainok, a serene community and its neighbouring villages.

 However, the situation went awry shortly after the youths commenced the operation as a group that went into a nearby village around Mainok was attacked by the insurgents, killing over five of them.

Residents claimed they had ealier warned the youths against pursuing the Boko Haram into the bush, sensing danger because of the caliber of arms of the insurgents but the overzealous young men pushed on. “It is unfortunate we lost some of the civilian JTF. These guys have been doing well. They are patrotric Nigerians because they have come to our rescue when all hope was lost. Nobody will ever thought some boys can checkmate the madness going on. Government should encourage them, they deserve honour for their patriotism,” a resident, who did not want his name in print, said.

JTF spokesman, Lt-Col Sagir Musa, confirmed that the youths were on operation in Mainok last  Friday, but said one was killed. “In the course of the operation, they were attacked by suspected members of Boko Haram terrorists which led to the killing of one youth vigilante and another one sustained injury. Both the deceased and the wounded are in a specialist hospital in Maiduguri metropolis,” Sagir said in a statement.

He said the military moved to the area at about 11pm on Friday on hearing the news, adding that troops were drafted to the area and its surrounding villages “with a view to apprehending the sect members.”

Also at Dawashe, near Baga in Kukawa Local Government, over 20 people were also killed. “A group of civilian JTF from Maiduguri stormed Dawashe in search of the insurgents when the suspected sect members came, armed and fired   sporadic shots that killed over 20 innocent civilians while a dozen received serious gunshot injuries,” Media Coordinator of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Lt Haruna Mohammed Sani, said through an email message. He said the victims were receiving medical treatment provided by the MNJTF in the Headquarters Field Ambulance in Baga..