A clash between gunmen suspected to
be Boko Haram members and the military left over 185 dead in a single day.
The Village Head of Baga, Kukawa Local
Government Area, Mallam Ali, who gave the figure while briefing
Governor Kashim Shettima on Monday, added that 2,000 houses, 62
vehicles and 486 motorcycles were either burnt or vandalized during the
clash in the early hours of Saturday.
The Presidency which on Monday ordered
investigation into the incident, however, said it believed the figures
might have been “grossly exaggerated.” Authorities of the Defence
Headquarters, Abuja had before the Presidency’s comment, put the
casualty figure at 25.
Shettima, who was on an assessment tour
of the village and other affected areas, announced a cash donation
of N5m and relief materials to the victims. He said his government
would also pay the medical bills of those injured. He said, “We are going to convey those
with serious injuries to Maiduguri for further medical attention at the
University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Others will be taken to the
Umaru Shehu Specialist Hospital for proper care.’’
He expressed sadness over the incident and urged the residents of the affected areas to take it as an act of Allah. The Chief Press Secretary to the
Governor, Mallam Isa Gusau, later issued a statement in which the
state Ministry of Works was directed by the governor to start the
reconstruction of the burnt houses.
The statement added, “The number of
persons killed as well as houses destroyed has not been accurately
ascertained by any competent authority as government awaits the report
of its committee or any reliable source of information to ascertain
accurate figures.”
Commander of the Multi-National Joint
Task Force, Gen. Austin Edokpaye, who shed light on the clash denied
that the military engaged in massive killing of civilians.
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