Less than 48 hours to the Eid-El-Kabir celebration, the Boko Haram terror sect has reportedly struck in parts of Adamawa State, leaving destruction in its trail.

The Islamic extremists raided some villages, including Kuburshosho in Michika Local Government Area. In Kuburshosho, Saturday Newswatch learnt that the insurgents burnt down the family home of former governor Boni Haruna, now Minister of Youth Development.

A resident of Garta (one of the villages reportedly raided by the insurgents), who identified himself simply as Joseph, said the murderous sect arrived his village around 6pm on Thursday, raiding homes and shops.

“They burnt most of the shops and houses after looting them. Most people had to climb to the nearby mountains in search of safety.

“For now, I won’t be able to say the number of casualties as we are still in the bush. We learn that the attackers have just left the village this (Friday) morning,” Joseph was quoted as saying.

The insurgents were reported to have also attempted entering Kamale village but were hampered by the overflooded river on their way.

Following the insecurity situation in parts of the state, the Adamawa Emirate Council has announced the cancellation of the traditional Durbar celebration which usually characterised the Sallah festival. The council said today’s Sallah will be celebrated on a low key – devoid of dancing and merriment.

Meanwhile, more than 10,000 displaced persons from Higgi tribe in Michika council have cried out for help, citing hunger and imminent starvation as their immediate concern. They solicited the assistance of government, philanthropic individuals, non-governmental organisations and international donor agencies to come to their aid.

A pressure group, Higgi People’s Initiatives, made the appeal yesterday, adding that it had become necessary to raise alarm for the world to take note of their plight, which they said was occasioned by Boko Haram attacks on their homeland.

Spokesman of the group, Barr. David Barau, complained that Boko Haram has wreaked havoc in their communities, resulting in hundreds of deaths, and the displacement of thousands of indigenes of the area.

According to Barau, “There are today more than 10,000 Higgi people living as refugees in Yola and its environs, while Michika and other towns in the council have become ghost towns.”

The group lamented that even before the Boko Haram insurgency, their area had been without any federal presence in terms of infrastructure, regretting that their situation has been further compounded by the terror whirlwind.

•Excerpted from a Saturday Newswatch report. Photo shows Youth Development Minister Boni Haruna, whose village was one of those raided by Bokon Haram.

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