Nigerians numbering over 100,000 have reportedly fled into Niger Republic from the town of Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, after multiple attacks by Boko Haram insurgents on Wednesday.
According to reports, no fewer than 10 people have been killed, while several have been injured on Wednesday. Thousands more were said to have wondered about in the bush, just as hundreds of houses of the civilian population, their shops and government buildings including police divisional headquarters have been burnt to ashes by the attackers.
The attack on Damasak on Wednesday is said to be the sixth time in the last two weeks, while the Nigerian Army, supported by the Air Force, have been battling the insurgents in the last four days for the control of the town.
Sources, though unverified, say the terrorists finally hoisted their flags on Wednesday, and were still in the town at the time of filing this report.
The Senator representing Borno North at the National Assembly, Abubakar Kyari, confirmed to reporters that the town had been overrun by the insurgents who stormed the area around 1 pm.
Kyari, who had led a delegation of members both from the national and state assemblies from the area to the Maiduguri Government House, where they met with Governor Babagana Zulum behind-closed-doors, told reporters that the terrorists were in Damasak.
He said: “We are aware of the attack last night, they (Boko Haram) burnt several houses and some people lost their lives. Some people sustained bullet wounds and many properties set on fire.
“But most disturbing reports that we received this afternoon is that they are back in Damasak now, from about 1 pm and they are still there as of 1745hrs, so this is the latest reports. There is a brigade there but the town was sacked yesterday.
“The reports we received was that they have buried 10 people and 20 people have been wounded, so the people have fled the town.
“The people are desirous of staying in Damasak but because of the insecurity, some have fled to the bush and others to neighbouring Niger for safety but we came here to meet with the governor with all members of the House of Representatives.
“Our major concern is the safety and welfare of our people…We feel their pain, we feel their hardship and we want to give them the assurance that the government is up and doing.”
