Tragedy struck in Geidam, Yobe State, as suspected members of the deadly terrorist group, Boko Haram, killed a popular pastor of the Church of Christ in Nations, Luka Levong.
NIGERIACRIME gathered that the attack was carried out in the early hours of Friday, January 5, 2024.
According to some residents who threw more light on the incident on Friday, the terrorists launched their attack on the area around 2 am.
The residents narrated that the church’s treasurer, Maina Abdullahi, also lost his life in the attack.
Speaking further, the residents disclosed that several houses and a church were razed with fire by the attackers and corpses of the victims have been evacuated to the Specialist Hospital, Geidam.
Contacted, the Yobe State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dungus Abdulkarim, stated that he does not have detailed information about the incident.
He said, “Geidam is a frontline area in the war against insurgency and the Nigerian military should be contacted.”
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Efforts to get the reaction of the Nigerian Army Spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, were unsuccessful.
Recall that Geidam is a hotspot in the fight against insurgency and over 150,000 people have been displaced in the area. Also, Boko Haram is a militant organisation based in northeastern Nigeria and has killed an estimated 50,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million people since its establishment.
In a separate development, three persons abducted along the Obiri-Ikwerre-Port Harcourt Airport Road by suspected armed herdsmen have regained their freedom.
Rivers State Police Command confirmed their release in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko.
In the statement, the PPRO said the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu had during a meeting with the Area Commanders, DPOs, and Tactical Team Commanders in the area, instructed that adequate security measures be taken to ensure the release of the victims.
According to Iringe-Koko, “the pressure and massive deployment of Police presence” led to the release of the victims who have already reunited with their family members on Friday.”
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen had kidnapped about eight persons around the Port Harcourt International Airport Roundabout, Omuagwa, on 2nd January, 2024.