Borno Border Towns Accuse STF Of Killing 129 Residents

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  Sequel to the raid on Sambisa Forest of Gwoza in Borno State by the Special Task Force (STF) deployed to  towns and villages within the Sambisa Game Reserve, residents of border communities like Ngoshe, Ashigashiya, Barawa, Jibirilli, Chikide and others have told the state’s deputy governor Alhaji Zanna Umar Mustapha how the STF invaded their towns and villages and killed about 129 innocent residents.
  
  They narrated their plight to the deputy governor who was on a special mission of reconciliation over the grievances of Nigerian citizens that fled to the Cameroon for safety.
  
  Alhaji Mustapha represented the state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima who is in China Republic for a business meeting.
  
  On the government entourage were commissioners for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Justice, Higher Education, lawmaker, Emir of Gwoza, special advisers and other top government officials.
  
  Community leaders like Malam Abubakar Musa Waha, Alhaji Muar Barawa, Sadiki Ali, Suleiman Dalhatu, Alhaji Abdu Ashigashiya, among others, who spoke for their respective peoples in the three camps of the Nigerian refugees at the three border areas of Ashigashiya, Jinirilli and Barawa border towns visited, told the government that they would not return to their home towns until the state government reassured them that the soldiers would never return to their towns again.
  
  Similarly, they demanded that the state government should stop the military operatives from invading or tormenting them day and night as they had done in the past during which they came with a list of names and at times arrest and instantly kill residents without interrogation.
  
  In their explanation to the visiting team, they claimed that there were never any instance of religious conflict in the areas, neither was there any trace of Boko Haram among the residents.
  
  However, the state government appealed to them to return to their homes, and assured them that peace would surely return to the areas. He asked the people to forward to the state government within 24 hours the names of selected youths for registration to take over security of their areas as obtained in Maiduguri town where youths have taken over security checkpoints and were arresting returning Boko Haram insurgents.
  
  Africcon Blogspot correspondent was in the deputy governor’s entourage  alongside other government officials to Ashigashiya, Jibrilli,  Agapalwa, Chikide, Barawa and Khurum, communities on the border with the Republic of Cameroon and the delegation was told that over 15,000 Nigerians had crossed over the river boundary in between Ashigashiya and Cameroon and vowed not to return following their alleged harsh treatment by the soldiers.
  
  A minor conflict arose when some Christian leaders faulted the allegations made by a community leader against the soldiers, claiming that it was politically motivated.
  
  Rev James Ayuba told Africcon Blogspot that “all those who fled to Cameroon are guilty of being associated with Boko Haram as the security agencies are carrying out their responsibilities according to the rules.”