Boko Haram ‘captures’ Borno town, Damasak

After several hours of attack on Damasak, a town in Borno, Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly captured the town.

According to AFP, the militants stormed the major market in the community on Monday, killing scores and forcing many others to flee into Niger republic, which shares land border with Nigeria around Damasak.

A local government official in Damasak said the gunmen concealed their weapons in containers that they brought to the market, pretending to be traders.

Soldiers were also said to have been unable to withstand the firepower of the insurgents, leaving the residents at the mercy of the group.

Maina Ma’aji Lawan, the representative of Borno north senatorial district at the senate, told the news agency that the militants have taken full control of Damasak.

“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,” Lawan told AFP by telephone from Abuja.

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

“They have captured the town.”

Usman Kalil, a senior local government official, said Boko Haram, which has seized more than 20 communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, had hoisted their flag in Damasak.

“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 their custody.”

At an investment summit in London last week, President Goodluck Jonathan said Nigerian security forces were tackling the insurgents, expressing delight that no part of the country had recently fallen under the control of Boko Haram.