Scores of motorists and travellers were feared dead on Monday after stepping on Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by members of the Boko Haram sect on the Maiduguri-Damboa-Chibok road in Borno State.
This was confirmed by the Executive Chairman of the council area.
He added that terrorists also stormed Njilang village in Whuntafu ward of Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, killing three people.
They could not, however, confirm the deaths of scores of motorists and travellers as a result of IED explosions, as unconfirmed reports indicated that the motorists and passengers were travelling on the recently reopened Maiduguri-Damboa-Chibok-Askira/Uba road when trucks carrying food stepped on IEDs planted by suspected terrorists.
Several more were reportedly injured.
However, sources and residents told Vanguard that the armed insurgents stormed Njilang at about 2:34 a.m. yesterday and opened fire on fleeing residents, killing three people and looting shops before torching residential houses without a fight.
Similarly, a passenger, Abubakar Usman, who survived the IEDs’ explosion, said: “The insurgents targeted some trucks conveying foodstuff and off-loaders.”
The Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area said he was yet to get the full details of the attack.
“Yes I received a distress call today (yesterday) that one of my communities, Njilang, was attacked by armed terrorists.
“Though details were still sketchy, some callers informed me that three people were killed while infrastructure was destroyed. Other versions revealed that more than four persons were killed in the unfortunate incident.”
All efforts to get confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer, Sani Shatambaya, proved abortive at press time.