Boko Haram attacks market, captures another town in Borno

Boko Haram has reportedly captured Damasak, another town in Borno state, sources in the state said on Tuesday. Reports said soldiers and residents fled when the heavily armed militants stormed the towns market on Monday and opened fire on traders.

A local government official in the town, Mohammed Damasak said that prior to opening fire, the gunmen concealed their weapons in containers that they brought to the market and pretended to be traders.

One of the sources, Senator Maina Ma’aji Lawan, who represents northern Borno in the Senate, told AFP that the Islamic terrorists were now in control of Damasak, a border town with Niger.

“There is not a single male in Damasak. Boko Haram is in control because all males and soldiers have fled. No one expects women to fight them”he was quoted as saying.

 AFP quoted more sources who confirmed the attack.

“Sadly, the report we have is that the Boko Haram terrorists have established their authority in Damasak. They have captured the town,” said a senior security source in Maiduguri.

Usman Kalil, a senior local government official, said Boko Haram, which has seized more than two dozen towns in Borno and neighbouring Yobe and Adamawa states, had hoisted their flag.

“They have killed our people at will but I don’t know how many people,” he said.

“They also destroyed many buildings, including the market, a hospital and the secretariat. Many people, especially women and children, are under the custody of the terrorists.”

Lawan said he feared that Damasak may suffer the same fate as Malam Fatori, a nearby fishing hub which was overrun earlier this month.

“When Boko Haram seized Malam Fatori recently, the military kept giving us assurances that they were going to deploy and take it back,” the senator added.

“But the town is still in the hands of the insurgents and not a single soldier has been deployed to fight them. Our concern is Damasak may not be any different.”