Residents of Auno, a village in Borno State have fled in droves along with their livestock to Maiduguri, the state capital, following a threat letter issued to the District Head of the village by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.
This was even as seven policemen have allegedly been killed by the sect in an attack on another village in Adamawa State.
This came few days after the sect’s deadly attacks on Mainok and Jakana villages, which claimed 84 lives.
Auno is a farming and herdsmen community, with a population of over 2,000 and is 25 kilometres west of Maiduguri.
Following the threat, the state government has also ordered the closure of Auno Secondary School, to prevent students from being killed.
In April, 2012, the ward head of Auno, along with six other villagers, were killed by suspected terrorists, who slit their throats in their own houses at night.
Speaking on the fleeing villagers yesterday in Maiduguri, the ward head, Ba Afuno Bulama, said that a letter threatening attack on the village was dropped last Thursday by gunmen, who came on two motorcycles.
“The attacks and killings at Mainok and Jakana villages, which are 20 kilometres to this village (Auno); and the threat letter issued to me on Thursday by gunmen, forced our people to flee to Maiduguri for safety.
“Every other thing, including our grains, furniture and other immovable property were left behind, as the villagers cannot transport all their property into the city.
“The important thing was for all of us to flee for our dear lives. We don’t want to be killed like the people of Mainok and Jakana, who are our neighbours.“Even the military post near the village was abandoned by soldiers, who had been manning the post before the insurgents issued their threat letter,” he said
One of the policemen guarding Auno Boarding Primary School told newsmen that the villagers fled at the weekend, because of the fears of being attacked by insurgents.
Confirming the development yesterday in Maiduguri, the state Police Commissioner, Tanko Lawal said that the affected villagers are acting on the directives of their ward head.
Meanwhile, gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists at the weekend attacked a police station, court, primary school and three churches in Fota village, Lala District of Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, during which seven policemen were feared killed.
Reports from the area indicated that, the attack occurred on Saturday night at about 9p.m when the gunmen invaded the village and started shooting sporadically.
In the ensuing melee, three villagers were also alleged to have been killed by the terrorists, who operated for several hours unchallenged.
“When they arrived at about 9p.m Saturday night, they headed straight for the police station and set it ablaze. Thereafter, they torched the Area Court building, a block of classrooms at Fota Primary School and three churches,” a youth leader from the village narrated.
Other residents, who did not want their names mentioned, said they suspected that the attackers may have been fleeing from the current military assault in Sambisa forest.
Another source said the gunmen attacked a wedding party at Bisir, a nearby village, where three villagers were also killed on the spot.
The gunmen rode on bikes and were chanting Allahu Akbar, it was learnt.
Residents said that more reinforcement was later deployed as many villagers fled and had to sleep in the bush.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muhammed Ibrahim, a DSP, confirmed the attack but did not specify the casualty.
He, however, said that the details of the incident could be obtained from the military, saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the state of emergency imposed on the state.
However, the Public Relations Officer, 23rd Armoured Brigade, Captain Jafaru Nuhu confirmed the incident but could not ascertain the number of casualties.
