Nguetchewe attack: How it happened

The borough of Moskota Mayo in Mayo-Tsanaga, Far North Region, is still in shock.

A terrorist attack occurred last Monday at the entrance of a Mosque in the city of Nguetchewe, killing five people including four faithful who were in the place of prayer and the suicide bomber who detonated his explosive charge. The attack also made half-dozen wounded.

Le Jour, in its issue on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, provided details on the circumstances of this heinous act perpetrated by terrorists of Boko Haram.

In his account, our colleague wrote: "It was nearly 5 am (Monday, January 18) in this village about twenty kilometers from the border with Nigeria. Members of the local committee shall ensure vigilance. Two of them saw two figures who came from Goldavi, a village in the district of Mayo Moskota. The hackers seemed suspicious. The guards called out in Fulfulde."

Both individuals refused to stop as requested by their vigils. "The two shadows start running towards the village and homes. The members of the vigilante committee started running after them shouting to alert the villagers. 'Get out of the houses,' they asked. The people rushed out of their houses, among them were other security guards. The two intruders separated. One headed towards the Adji neighborhood and got close to a Mosque. The other went into the woods."

In the Mosque, there were faithfuls who were praying. The bomber enterd the Mosque and detonated the explosive belt he was carrying. It immediately killed four people and seriously injured three other in their legs. A group of vigilante memebers organized themselves to find the second intruder.

Unfortunately, the pursuit ended near the village close to the border where nobody, aside Boko Haram who planted a mine belt between the border and Goldavi, dared venture. Not even the soldiers of the 42nd motorized infantry battalion have an outpost in Nguetchewe," said Le Jour.