Twenty-five members of the volunteer youth vigilance group, popularly called civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), were killed by Boko Haram at the weekend in Borno State in counter-insurgency operations against the Islamist sect.

About 1, 000 youths, mostly members of the civilian JTF, had mobilized on Friday afternoon in over 30 vehicles to smoke out insurgents believed to be hiding at Mainok, a small community along Maiduguri-Damaturu Road, about 58 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.

The counter-insurgency operation, according to the youths, was informed by a tip-off from residents that many of the Boko Haram members who fled Maiduguri following persistent arrests and killings of the insurgents took refuge in Mainok, a serene community and its neighbouring villages.

However, the situation went awry shortly after the youths commenced the operation as a group that went into a nearby village around Mainok was attacked by the insurgents, killing over five of them.

Residents claimed they had ealier warned the youths against pursuing the Boko Haram into the bush, sensing danger because of the caliber of arms of the insurgents but the overzealous young men pushed on. “It is unfortunate we lost some of the civilian JTF. These guys have been doing well. They are patrotric Nigerians because they have come to our rescue when all hope was lost. Nobody will ever thought some boys can checkmate the madness going on. Government should encourage them, they deserve honour for their patriotism,” a resident, who did not want his name in print, said.

JTF spokesman, Lt-Col Sagir Musa, confirmed that the youths were on operation in Mainok last Friday, but said one was killed. “In the course of the operation, they were attacked by suspected members of Boko Haram terrorists which led to the killing of one youth vigilante and another one sustained injury. Both the deceased and the wounded are in a specialist hospital in Maiduguri metropolis,” Sagir said in a statement.

He said the military moved to the area at about 11pm on Friday on hearing the news, adding that troops were drafted to the area and its surrounding villages “with a view to apprehending the sect members.”

Also at Dawashe, near Baga in Kukawa Local Government, over 20 people were also killed. “A group of civilian JTF from Maiduguri stormed Dawashe in search of the insurgents when the suspected sect members came, armed and fired sporadic shots that killed over 20 innocent civilians while a dozen received serious gunshot injuries,” Media Coordinator of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Lt Haruna Mohammed Sani, said through an email message. He said the victims were receiving medical treatment provided by the MNJTF in the Headquarters Field Ambulance in Baga..


culled from SUN

SOURCE >> http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/boko-haram-kills-25-civilian-jtf-members-in-borno/!

BADT BOIZ

You give away your lives to save your country. Your effort shall never be vain and it's well appreciated.

RIP.
Allah shall reward you in the underworld.


This my post is now bad market for NL under 15, try harder next time.

No 1st to comment today.

Their days are numbered

May d souls of the dead rest in peace...n may boko boys have their 72 virgins in hell.

With the actions of civilian JTF, Boko Haram is sooo over.

These boys would have been recruited by Boko Harm in the past but today have turned on the terrorists.

Nice strategy by the military.

This 'civilian JTF' is having their mandate on the wrong turn!

They shld be restricted only to intelligence gathering and tip offs.

Why shld they be allowed to take up arms(which is illegal by the way), to the extent using it? They shld just provide information for our JTFs, and leave them to do the job they were being trainned to do!

The boko haram combat department wld av been well trainned in the little way, no matter how little. And this is an edge over the overzealous and impulsive civilians.

R.I.P anyway