No fewer than four Christians were left dead, after two churches and over 50 houses razed down by suspected insurgents in Pelachiroma community of Hawul on Tuesday.
Pelachiroma is few kilometres away from Dzur which is a mountainous community harbouring terrorists camps along the Biu- Garkida- Gombi- Yola road where the late emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Timta, and other innocent people were ambushed and killed by suspected Boko Haram sect early this year.
Hawul is a predominantly Christian community, south and about 210 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, the state capital that has been under series of Boko Haram attacks in the last couple of months ago with absence of security operatives.
Just last two weeks, some insurgents stormed Shaffa community which is about 10 kilometres away from Azare, the council Headquarter and killed over 20 people including a Pastor of Living Faith Church, Pastor Eluid Gwamna Mshelizza who was slaughtered on his way to his house after performing a public sermon programme at about 10pm in the community.
In that attack, no fewer than 6 churches were razed down with several houses and shops all belonging to Christians were looted and destroyed.
Fleeing residents of pelachiroma revealed that the insurgents who stormed the village at about 9pm started shooting sporadically at their targets with no confrontation as people scamper for safety.
” They came with motorcycles and well armed with ak47 rifles and petrol bombs targeting christian faithful and our places of worship.
” as I am talking to you now we have all deserted our community as the insurgents who were chanting Allahu Akbar ( God is great) vowed to eliminate Christians in Haul Local government area.
” we are really disturbed because, Hawul which is predominantly a Christians community has been under series of Boko haram attacks without confrontation or deployment of military operatives”. Mr. John Markus pelachiroma lamented in a telephone call but now taking refuge in Biu council area.
The Caretaker Chairman of Hawul Council area, Dr. Andrew Usman Malgwi confirmed the incident. He said, his people are under series of attacks by insurgents as security operatives particularly the military authorities have failed to deploy its personnel to Hawul despite all pleas.
He said, “Yes some of my communities are currently under Boko Haram attacks, the insurgents laid raid ambush along Dzur highway and killed several people before destroying many vehicles last week. This time around they wrecked havoc in Pelachiroma where they killed three persons with destruction of churches, houses and business centres, but as government we are making frantic effort to see to it that security operatives particularly the Military are deployed to safeguard lives and property”. Dr. Malgwi stated.