About 40 people have lost their lives in Gurokayaye village of the Gaidam Local Government Area of Yobe State, following attacks by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

The gunmen killed 20 people on Monday and another 20 on Tuesday, using both firearms and explosives.

The villagers were reportedly targeted for failing to pay taxes to the insurgents on their farm produce.

According to The PUNCH, one of the local on Wednesday said “The insurgents came to the village between 5 pm and 6 pm, summoned the residents, took them to the outskirts and shot them,”

“More than 17 people died instantly on Monday. The other about 20 were among those who came from Gaidam and nearby villages to the affected village for the funeral of the first 20, on Tuesday.

“When they were driving back home their vehicle hit an explosive planted by the insurgents; 10 died immediately and about 10 died at the Gaidam Primary Health Care Centre where they were taken to after the accident.”

Confirming the incidents, Yobe State Police Command spokesman, Dungus Abdulkarim, said “The gunmen (he would not call them insurgents until the conclusion of investigations) arrived at Gurokayaye village at about 11pm on Monday, October 30 and opened fire, which resulted in the death of the Village Head and between 17 and 20 others,” 

“Two of those who suffered severe injuries are now being treated at the Gaidam PHC and two others now at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, Damaturu.

“At about 7.30 pm of Tuesday, October 31, the people, who had gathered on the village for the burial of those killed, drove over a landmine, and 20 people died as a result,”

He described the village as a stronghold of Boko Haram insurgents, disclosing that troops had even labelled the area as a ‘no-go area.’

Speaking further, the Police spokesperson said, “You know, this is harvest time, and the insurgents are used to going around the farming communities, collecting  Jizya (farm produce tax). Recently they stormed Tarmuwa axis of the state in this tax collection round.

“Following information revealed by the locals, security agents stormed the locality and confronted the unsuspecting insurgents in a fierce gunfire exchange, as a result of which two of the gunmen were killed and four were arrested, as many escaped with gun wounds.

 “So, in revenge, the gunmen attacked Gurokayaye village of Gaidam LGA where they killed the people I have just told you.”