Armed  Boko Haram insurgents

Not wanting to continue depending solely on the Nigerian military for their security and the determination of the youths to take their destiny in their hands, propelled the decision to become their own defenders.


Indeed, for about a year, they have been confronting the Boko Haram insurgents with sheer bravery and courage, most times with their crude and inferior weaponry.

Last Tuesday, they achieved another feat, when they planned and executed a major counter attack ambush against the insurgents.
The anti-Boko Haram onslaught had staved off a terrorist attack and possible abduction in Kalabalge Local Government Area, Northeast of Borno State, near the Camerounian border.


The villagers, who were prepared for the Boko Haram attack, had dug trenches for the purpose.

Rann village, which is located in the middle of a Boko Haram stronghold, had been attacked by the sect in the recent past.
In that attack, the youths of the village had allegedly acquired two light-weight armoured tanks and some AK47 rifles.

But the vigilante group refused to turn in the ammunition to the government in an increasingly common response to the danger they face everyday as more villages in the north are determined to take up arms to defend themselves in the current state of insecurity.
As such, the invading terrorists, who launched an early Tuesday morning attack on Rann, Shuwa and neighbouring villages, were met by a strong and determined resistant “village army”.

In the ensuing battle, over 200 terrorists were killed. The full number of the dead is not yet known as the villagers ran in pursuit of the escaping and injured terrorists into the bushes to continue their extermination.


In addition, more than 35 Boko Haram terrorists were captured. One APC and more than four hilux trucks and several motorcycles were also retrieved from the terrorists.

The villages also recorded casualties, as about 20 of them were said to have lost their lives in the fierce, but brave battle.
These youths, in the worst affected regions, are now seeking the formal right to bear arms and defend themselves.


Recently, the Borno Civilian-JTF sent this request to President Goodluck Jonathan in a meeting with security agents this month. The civil activist group also sent a formal request for Executive Authorisation of the people to bear arms, supported by the government to defend their territory and hunt and eliminate Boko Haram terrorists.

The government, however, is yet to officially respond to the open letter delivered to the federal government on April 25, 2014.



Source: ThisDay