Bloody Christmas In Nigeria As Boko Haram Burn 10 Churches, Kill Scores
It is a bleak Christmas in Adamawa State, North-East Nigeria as members of the Boko Haram Insurgents killed scores of people in Garkida Town of the state and burnt down about 10 Churches on Christmas Eve.
One of the churches raised down is the biggest of all in the town, the EYN (Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria), also known as Church of the Brethren in Nigeria.
The insurgents ransacked Pemi, a award under Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State before moving into Garkida a town in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State where they rained havoc by burning additional churches, ambulances, construction company earth moving vehicles, clinics and damaging the hospital.
The insurgents attacked on Thursday on Christmas eve when most of the villagers were preparing for the celebrations.
About six cars and five other houses of the church were burnt, some of the villagers told newsmen on Friday morning that vigilantes and hunters had stayed all night at Garkida because of news that the insurgents were planning to attack the town but when nothing happened, the vigilante and hunters left the town only for the insurgents to arrived from the Gada Uku junction and invaded Garkida town, a town of late Air Marshall Ibrahim Alfa, Nigeran former Chief of Air Staff,
“The insurgents came in around 5:30 pm through Gada Uku,” one of the villagers said.
“They came in batches of two. The first came in with a motorcycle while the other came in heavy vehicles, believe to be Hilux mounted with guns.
As soon as they entered the town of Garkida they started shooting sporadically and towards the EYN Church.
“Then they set it on fire. They also torched six cars and five other buildings around the church. Some of us ran into the bush, but unfortunately, six people were killed in the attack. Christians were to observe Christmas prayers in the church this morning.”
The military reportedly arrived at the scene hours after the insurgents had left but a military jet reportedly destroyed three of their gun-mounted jeeps at Garkida town
At Pemi side of Borno State, “Soldiers from 117 task force battalion in Chibok were mobilised, but they got here around 8 pm, probably because of the distance as Pemi is about 17 kilometres away from Chibok,” another source said.
He added that things are now under control as the military is putting in the effort to secure the Chibok general area.
Sagir Musa, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, did not immediately respond to a message seeking an update on the attack.
On Tuesday, the Department of State Services (DSS) raised the alarm over the “plot to bomb some places” during Christmas celebrations.
People fleeing Garkida said the insurgents caused monumental damage to the town by a mass burning of churches and other houses leaving a trail of blood and massive gunshots that rattled the town.
