By Olukayode Michael, Maiduguri
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said Monday evening attack on Rann by Boko Haram has caused many to flee the town.
A signed statement by the North East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Alh Saidu Minin said:
“An attack in Rann, some 175 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, on Monday forced civilians to flee.”
He said Rann was hosting Rann around 35,000 internally displaced people (IDPs), according to the International Organization for Migration.
He recalled that Rann has been repeatedly hit by insurgents attacks, which has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian conditions on the ground.
He revealed that Monday’s attack began at about 5:20 pm.
Minin said report revealed that the military base in the town was burnt by the terrorists, with locals and IDPs fleeing as the Islamist militants set fire to camps and shelters.
He said “aid workers in Maiduguri said colleagues in Rann blamed ISWAP for the raid and people fled towards Bulale, on the Cameroon side of the border.
“Four IDPs were allegedly killed. Several shelters were burned. They also looted food supplies in the town. Humanitarian operations in Rann were scaled down in March last year after an attack which killed three aid workers,” Minin said.