Hunters hit Boko Haram

• Kill 75, recapture Adamawa town
• Female suicide bomber attacks Niger college

No fewer than 75 Boko Haram militants have been killed in Maiha, Adamawa State, by hunters who launched a reprisal to recapture the town from the insurgents. Maiha is about 25 kilometres from Mubi, which was captured about two weeks ago by Boko Haram. Maiha fell to Boko Haram on Monday after a fierce battle with Nigerian troops.

It was learnt that the local hunters, during the battle to retake the town from the insurgents, ambushed them and killed scores of the terrorists. According to sources, the hunters were roused to battle following a report that the insurgents had killed a Lieutenant Colonel, whose identity could not be ascertained as at press time. Continue after the cut...

“The hunters gave the insurgents a hot chase during which many Boko Haram sect members were killed. Over 75 were killed in the fight. We commended them for the gallant fight,” said Bello Ya’u, a fleeing resident. Also corroborating, Baba Dauda, a local hunter said: “We have to wake up and fight the bastards that kept plaguing our society, killing innocent souls. People should brace up and start fighting them.

We’ve killed many of them and we are not afraid of being killed.” Already, there is a fear of a possible reprisal by the insurgents as thousands of residents of Maiha are presently moving to Yola. It was learnt that over 20,000 hunters in Adamawa had been mobilised to team up with the Nigerian troops to liberate some captured towns from the insurgents.

The state coordinator of Civilian JTF, Alhaji Bako Aliyu Goni, said over 2,000 people, including youth vigilantes, hunters, retired military, police and para-military operatives, artisans and traders had vowed to confront Boko Haram in the state. The insurgents have taken over Madagali, Michika, Mubi and Maiha. Meanwhile, a female suicide bomber yesterday detonated a bomb in front of the Federal College of Education library in Kotangora, Niger State, killing three and injuring several students.

The suicide bomber, who wore hijab, detonated the bomb at 12:30p.m as the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) was organising examinations in the auditorium. According to a student, Naomi Gana, who was lucky to have finished her papers, “I am still in shock because after I finished my exams, I sat under the tree waiting for my friend when the bomb exploded.

“I saw the bomber; she wore hijab. I saw her running towards the library and thank God before she got to the entrance, the bomb went off. The other girl that died was just unlucky because she is a student who was walking away when the bomb went off.” An eyewitness, who spoke with New Telegraph on the phone said: “Presently, about eight people are injured out of which one broke his leg because of the stampede.

“I thank God the bomb did not affect or take many lives because the bomber’s target was the school library but fate met her when the bomb went off leaving her and two other females who just finished writing their examinations dead.” The Provost of the college, Nathaniel Adediran, said the incident might make the authorities to close the college. Among those critically injured by the bomb blast and taken to the hospital are Suleiman Mohammed and Danladi Muhammed.

The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari, who confirmed the bomb blast, said only the suicide bomber died while several others were injured. Reacting to the incident, the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) condemned the blast, describing it as a dastard act. The forum through its chairman and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, said full scale investigation had commenced into the incident. Aliyu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel Ebije, called on the people to be vigilant.

He stated that the state government had doubled security in all schools and put up a team to ensure continuous screening of people in school environment to prevent more attacks. It was also learnt yesterday that the death toll in a suspected Boko Haram suicide bombing of a secondary school in Potiskum, Yobe State, has risen to 58. A school official told AFP yesterday that the number of the injured has also risen to 117.

“From records at our disposal, the death toll now stands at 58 while the number of those injured has soared to 117,” he said. A bomber disguised in school uniform blew himself up as students gathered for morning assembly at the Government Comprehensive Senior Science Secondary School before classes began on Monday. Police previously gave the death toll as 47 with 79 injured and said that Boko Haram was believed to be responsible.