A Maiduguri resident took to micro-blogging website to recount the horror of the Islamist terrorist attack on the village of Dalori in the outskirts of the capital of Borno State.
Maina Kachallah, a humanitarian and child welfare worker, used her Twitter account to give a heartbreaking account as she watched along with others as Dalori was razed to the ground by Boko Haram fighters on the night of Saturday, January 30, 2016.
The deadly terrorist group, Boko Haram, had launched a late Saturday attack on the city of Maiduguri. Nigerian troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gunbattle.
See her tweets below:
Dalori, a settlement less than 12km from Maiduguri, is currently burning and under BH attack. Sporadic gunfire all over.
— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) January 30, 2016
I have relations trapped inside the burning town. None of their phone is responding.
— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) January 30, 2016
We are currently watching the flares of the burning town over the horizon. Still no response to all phone calls.
— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) January 30, 2016
The army now rolling out toward Dalori, displaced residents had reached Ngomari, another settlement.
— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) January 30, 2016
Now heavy gunfire and artillery heard. On and on…night battle amidst fleeing residents. No longer at ease. No phone response!
— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) January 30, 2016
Now the heavy gunfire intensified! Dalori still burns on the horizon. The guns echoes on.
— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) January 30, 2016
And now heavy shelling follows, guns rattling on. Sign of heavy skirmishes on going. Maiduguri listening on.
— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) January 30, 2016
Still no responding phones from Dalori. Hope they made it out, or as usual, accept the inevitable we are accustomed to.
— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) January 30, 2016
I stood helpless (as thousands others stood before me helpless), watched the burning gradually reduced to faint glow. Dalori maybe gone…
— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) January 30, 2016
And the gnawing pain inside me swells on, reality dampens all enthusiasm. Just an answer to a phone from Dalori is all I need. But alas…
— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) January 30, 2016
TOO MUCH TO BEAR. MAY THE SOULS OF THE DEPARTED FIND PEACE. #Dalori
— Maina Kachallah (@am280mag) January 30, 2016