Boko Haram attacks Borno village, kill pastor, 19 others…burn down churches

Seemingly undeterred by news of the death of their leader, “Abubakar Shekau”, suspected Boko Haram members yesterday attacked two villages in Borno State - Shaffa and Shindiffu villages of Hawul Local Government Area of the state - killing one Pastor Eliud Gwamna Mshelizza, a pastor at the Living Faith Church; an unnamed teacher at Government Girls Secondary School, Shaffa, and 18 other persons who were mainly Christians, Vanguard reports.

The terrorists also burnt down about 10 churches and several houses, destroying structures at the Government Girls Secondary School as well as a clinic in Shaffa.

Fleeing residents said the terrorists attacked Shaffa at about 8pm on Wednesday before invading   Shindiffu village the next morning, Thursday.

Reports however said that the terrorists met their end as they proceeded to another Christian village, Turaku village. They were ambushed and killed by troops from Adamawa axis and Biu Military barracks, who had been trailing them.

A top military source was quoted as saying:“Our men from Adamawa and Biu axis repelled the attacks on Shaffa, Shindiffu and Turaku village, over 100 of the terrorists were killed while several arms and ammunition were also recovered in the encounter.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gideon Jubrin in a telephone interview with a Vanguard Correspondent confirmed the attacks but said that due to the closure of telecommunication network in the area, he was yet to get details and number of casualties.

According to the newspaper, “In the last two months, Tashan Alade, Hirzhi, Pela Birni, Debiro, Kwajaffa Bura, Jubwuwhi, Dalwa, Shaffa, Shindiffu, among other communities of Hawul ( 215 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the state capital) had witnessed coordinated and series of deadly attacks by Boko Haram with the burning of churches and houses mostly belonging to Christians