A house belonging to former Governor and now Minister for Youth Development, Mr. Boni Haruna was yesterday, confirmed to have been destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents who wrecked havoc at his country home in Michika Local Government, Adamawa State.
The towns which were allegedly attacked by the insurgents included Kuburshosho, where the minister hails from as well as Garta.
A resident of Garta, who identified himself as Joseph said the insurgents arrived his village about 6 am yesterday and looted people’s homes and shops before setting them on fire.
“They burnt most of the shops and houses after looting them. People had to climb the nearby mountains to save their lives.
“For now, I can’t say the number of casualties as we are still in the bush from where we have just learnt that the attackers had left.”
“They told us that the insurgents attacked Kuburshosho village where they burnt the family house of former Governor of the state and current Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna,” Joseph said.
However, it was learnt that attempts by the insurgents to enter Kamale village were thwarted due to the River Kamale which was now overflowing due to the recent downpour in the area.
Meanwhile, no fewer than 10,000 Higgi people of Michika Local Government Area are now said to be living as refugees in Yola, the state capital while Michika and other towns in the local government having deserted their houses.
A pressure group under the aegis of Higgi People’s Initiative Organization said this, adding that they were ‘’crying out so that the whole world will be aware of their plight following the attack by Boko Haram.’’
Addressing a news conference at the NUJ Press Centre yesterday in Yola, the Spokesperson for the group, Mr David Barau explained that the wreckage and destruction of their local government led to the death of hundreds of the Higgis.
Barau, a one-time deputy governor of the state said, “there are today more than 10,000 Higgi people living as refugees in Yola and its environs, while Michika and all other towns in the local government area have become ghost towns.
“We would like to draw attention to a part of the 1999 Constitution pertinent to our outcry. In chapter 11 (14)(2b) of the First Schedule of the constitution it is clearly stated that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
“But it can be explained by the fact that the Higgi are now in Diaspora and are generally guided by the principle of being their brother’s keeper. Thus, it is common to find one home hosting 60-100 people in Yola today. Needless to add that both the refugees and their hosts are in very unpleasant and difficult conditions,to put it mildly,” he added.
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