About
five people were feared dead and others abducted in a fresh attack by
Boko Haram on Pallam community in Madagali Local Government Area of
Adamawa, local officials and residents have said.
The attack came barely a week after the
terrorists launched a similar attack on neighbouring Wanu, Kamale and
Kafin Hausa communities of Michika and Madagali areas.
Pallam is the hometown of the Deputy Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Tsamdu.
Fleeing residents said the onslaught lasted for about five hours.
“They sneaked into our town Pallam,
midnight at about 11:00pm, and started shooting sporadically, killing
and burning houses. They (Boko Haram) abducted some of our people,
mostly men.
“I escaped by the whiskers and fled into a
nearby hiding place before escaping; no soldier came to our rescue. For
now, I can’t tell the exact figures of the casualty. It was
terrible!,’’ a fleeing resident, Abamu Japhet, said.
Confirming the night attack, a member
representing Madagali, Michika at the House of Representatives, Adamu
Kamale, said the terrorists “killed even livestock, looted and burnt
many houses.”
“I got a distress call that they had,
again, launched a night attack at Pallam. As I speak, the casualty
figures is yet to be ascertained, but they killed and abducted people
and burnt houses. Even before this attack, the terrorists had earlier
ransacked Wanu, Kamale and Kafin Hausa communities. In fact, hardly a
day will pass without attack, let the government wake up.“We want President Muhammadu Buhari to visit us and see the horrible scenario being meted on our communities,’’ he said.
On his part, Madagali council Chairman,
Mohammed Yusuf, said the gunmen stormed the village and “burned down
houses and shops belonging to returnee Internally Displaced Persons
(IDPs), our people. Madagali is the only state bordering Borno, that is
why we are susceptible to attacks. In the process, they killed three
people,” he said.Yusuf called on the federal and state
governments “to intensify efforts in dealing with the security
situation. The military is doing their best, but they are not doing
enough…The border is porous…”
When contacted yesterday afternoon,
Police spokesman in the state, Othman Abubakar, said he was yet to be
briefed on the development.
“I am yet to get details of the attack, but I will get back to you later,” he said.
Also commenting, Administrative Officer
of Hunters Association in Madagali Local Government Area, Mallam Bakura
Madagali, said three villagers were killed, one injured, while two Boko
Haram members were also killed.