- Residents Flee As Insurgents Take Over Town
From John Adams, Minna
Barely a week after gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents ambushed and killed two military officers and four other soldiers in Karaga, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, the insurgents have again invaded Allawa community in the same local government area and sacked the military camp stationed in the town.
The insurgents, reportedly numbering over 200, invaded the community at around 1:30 am on Thursday and engaged the military in a fierce gun battle, forcing the soldiers to abandon the camp.
While some groups of insurgents engaged the military in the camp, others took over the entire Allawa town, forcing the residents to flee in different directions for safety.
Although details on the level of casualties from both sides are still unclear, sources indicate that the insurgents were on a revenge mission after the encounter with the military last week, where over 50 of them were reportedly neutralized.
According to a source close to the community, the residents have migrated to Erena community, about 50 kilometres from Allawa.
In the wake of this development, residents of Bassa, Pandogari, and Kukoki communities are reportedly moving out of the town for neighbouring villages and communities.
There is no statement yet from both the government and the state police command on this latest development.