The insurgents were said to have invaded Shaffa and Tesan Aledeh which are predominantly Christian communities on Wednesday evening.
Before they left unchallenged, they vowed to return if their ultimatum was not met, and killed two retired army officers and an ex-policeman.
The insurgents were said to have killed one of the former officers in Tesan Aledeh before leaving for the nearby Shaffa where they took the lives of the second retired officer and the ex- policeman.Continue...
A source, who disclosed this to one of our correspondents on Thursday, said the developments caused fears among Christian communities along the Biu-Hawul-Garkida-Mubi Road.
He said, “There is widespread fear of possible attacks by the insurgents among Christians in communities along this important road. People are worried that at the end of the ultimatum, the Boko Haram may also attack them.
“The Boko Haram members have started focussing attention on Christian communities in Southern Borno now; Yesterday (Wednesday), they attacked Tesan Alede and Shaffa in Hawul Local Government Area .
“They killed a retired police officer in Tasan Aledeh and warned the people of the community to convert to Islam within 24 hours.
“The people are now panicking because they are really helpless. First, there is no concentration of soldiers there. The soldiers only come in the afternoon and after patrolling for the day, they go back.
“Another thing is that there is no civilian JTF in the area. The people did not form the Civilian JTF because they were warned not to do so to avoid attracting the attention of the insurgents. Now they are harassing them.
“The Boko Haram members are openly addressing people in Shaffa and other Hawul communities. And because of the killing of the three ex-service men, many people are relocating.”
The PUNCH learnt on Thursday that the insurgents had on Saturday burnt many houses and churches in Debiro, Biu Local Government Area in Borno State.
Among the churches allegedly burnt were the EYN and the ECWA worship centres The residence of the Pastor of the Deeper Life Bible Church was also said to have been affected.
Many residents, including a former Commander of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Maj. Gen. B.A Debiro, were said to have been displaced.
A source said the insurgents stormed the community in two hilux vans and 20 motorcyles .
They were said to have headed straight for the residence of the District Head, Lawan Thlama, where they ordered that five young men should take them round to identify the residences of Christians in the community.
It was gathered that when information reached the Christians, they fled into the bush for safety.
However, another source said that five insurgents were arrested at Tafawa in Balewa LGA of Bauchi State and in Jalingo, Taraba State.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has deployed additional 500 troops in Adamawa State to give more bite to the fight between the military and Boko Haram insurgents in the state.
The Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday while updating journalists on the war against insurgency in the North-East.
Omeri said, “The military has mobilised additional troops to protect Mubi and to restore order to Michika, Gulak, Baza and the surrounding villages.
“The Nigeria military has continued to enforce its presence in the challenged communities in the North-East.
“Contrary to media reports of striking of some towns in Adamawa State such as Mubi; the military has confirmed the new redeployment of more than 500 troops to support the expectation around the area, including Gulak and Michika. We believe with this commitment and effort, the situation will be brought under control.
“The situation report indicates that Mubi is calm while troops, including the police and other services are on patrol there.”
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