Suspected Boko Haram insurgents in a convoy of three gun trucks attacked Katarko community in Yobe state, torching several houses on Wednesday by 5pm. Katarko is farming and herding community, 21 kilometres south of Damaturu, the state capital. Amsami Modu, a resident, who fled the community to Gujba for safety, disclosed that the terrorists burst into the village through a cattle route that crosses Katarko-Goniri road. “I was return from a farmland, when the insurgents started shooting sporadically into the air. An exchange of gun fire ensued with troops at military post. “The soldiers fled for safety, as they were overpowered by gun trucks laden with Rapid Propelled Grenades (RPG).” According to him, Katarko was attacked in 2015 with the destruction of its Bridge by insurgents. He said that while fleeing the village, a thick black smoke bellowed into the sky from the torched houses. Asked, whether there were losses of lives, Modu however said: “I cannot tell you right now, because, as the insurgents exchange gunfire with soldiers, I had to run for my life towards Gujba for safety.” The Yobe state police command, could not confirm yesterday’s attack, as several calls and SMS messages to Commissioner of Police, Sumonu Abdulmaliki, were unsuccessful.
