Vigilantes kill 8 Boko Haram insurgents near Chibok

Members of a local vigilante in Kwarangilam village, situated 15 kilometers to Chibok in Borno State yesterday killed eight suspected members of the Boko Haram who attacked the village around 3am, officials of the group and villagers said.

Sources said the local vigilantes hid in strategic positions with their local guns when they got hint that the Boko Haram assailants would attack the community at night.

“Our brave patriots engaged the armed invaders in a deadly shootout around 3am today (yesterday),” Adamsi Tar, the Chairman of Nigeria Vigilante Group in Borno State said.

“The attackers were taken unawares in what I can call ‘counter ambush’ because our men did not confront them directly. After hiding in strategic places, our men used local guns and picked them (insurgents) one by one while the terrorists kept shooting indiscriminately,” Tar said.

Tar said the insurgents had burnt some houses in the village. “The villagers have lost most of their personal effects. Our members have also lost most of their belongings in the fire especially their uniforms, because at night we don’t wear uniform,” he said.

He assured that his members have what it takes to confront the insurgents but need modern fighting equipment. “Our guns can only shoot once at a time and you must reload it again and again which is tedious and risky. We have said it time and again that we need better weapons; we need vehicles and other accessories that would make our jobs better; if we can get better arms, who is Boko Haram that would hold us to ransom all this while?” he asked.

Spokesman of the vigilantes in Borno State, Muhammed Gava said one of the ambushing insurgents was also arrested by the vigilantes and handed over to security operatives.

“The attackers retreated when they realized that it will not be an easy ride for them,” he said.

Since the abduction of 276 girls were abducted in Chibok on April 14, many communities have been attacked in the area.