B’Haram attack: Survivors in hiding, relatives mourn

The mourning relatives ... on Tuesday

The two survivors of the Boko Haram attack, Taoreed Azeez and Ibrahim Ademola, have gone into hiding.

The attack, which took place in Mongunu, Borno State, last Friday, led to the death of no fewer than 25 traders, 10 of them from Bodija Market in Ibadan Oyo State.

They were in Borno State on business trip, when they were waylaid by Boko Haram members and shot one by one.

It was learnt on Wednesday that the survivors were advised by friends and colleagues to disappear from public view for their safety.

A source in the market said, “They were advised to stay off public view. One of them has even relocated to Lagos. It is to ensure their safety.”

Meanwhile, relatives of the 10 traders who were murdered had continued to mourn the death of their members.

A sister to Seye Adegboyega, one of the slain traders, Opeyemi, told PUNCH Metro in a telephone interview that her elder brother was the breadwinner of the family.

She said, “I had an appointment with my brother on certain family matters. He promised to assist me in my business when on returning from his trip. He promised other family members too. His untimely death did not allow that to happen. I will miss him.”

Opeyemi said her brother had been buried in his house at Amuloko, Ibadan. She said his wife, Anu, a fashion designer, was currently staying in their Olorunsogo family house.

A bean merchant at the popular Bodija market whose apprentices were murdered, Alhaji Musa Owolabi, aka 77 Elewa, said, “The loss is too much. We are still grieving.

“Nururdeen Lawal, Ninalowo Saheed and Femi Oyetunde were our people from the market. Whenever we want to buy from the North, some of us would gather money and ask a few people to buy for us. That was what happened last week.

“We learnt that on Friday they were intercepted by people suspected to be Boko Haram members. They were killed and the money on them was taken away. We also lost millions of naira.

The Secretary, Bodija Market Food Sellers Association, Sola Faribido, said, “About N22m was stolen by the attackers. They were attacked shortly after withdrawing the money from the bank.

When our correspondent visited the market, some policemen were seen at strategic points.

The Public Relations Officer, Bodija Market Association, Mr. Akeem Emiola, said the police presence was to forestall a reprisal from the aggrieved Yoruba traders in the market.

Emiola said, “It is not our plan to carry out any protest. Nobody has offended us. We have been working together peaceful until the unfortunate incident occurred. Security at the market is very tight now.”