After a failed attempt on Sabon Gari in Damboa local government area of Borno state, a combined efforts of military officers and members of the vigilante group, otherwise known as Civilian JTF pursued the insurgents to Gur area around Mandafuma village, where they engaged them in a battle which lasted for about two hours, killing 41 members of the sect.

A member of the Civilian JTF, Umar Hassan who confirmed the incident told our reporter that, they beheaded the insurgents after the shootout and took the heads to Biu to show the people that the Boko Haram insurgents were human and not some beasts. He said people should not be afraid of them, urging them to join hands with security operatives to ensure that the sect, who are enemies of Islam and Nigerians are defeated.

According to Umar, they heard that the insurgents went to attack Sabon Gari, when people were returning to their homes after three months of exile as internally displaced persons in various camps across the state. He said he gathered that the attack was foiled as the military was already on ground before their arrival.

He said, after the attack was repelled, they headed towards Mandafuma in Biu local government and took the route to Gur, but again, the military and members of the civilian JTF ambushed them.

” They were engaged in fierce battle with the soldiers and 41 of them were killed. No soldier was killed in the ambush. After they were killed, we cut off their heads and took it to Biu to show the people in order to encourage them to stand against the Boko Haram fighters, who are now destroying our villages despite the supposed ceasefire agreement with government.” Umar Hassan said.