Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly taken the life of Sheikh Baba Goni Muktar Malumti, the Chief Imam of Jummat Central Mosque in Benisheikh town, the administrative center of Kaga Local Government Area in Borno State.

The assailants, traveling in a Volkswagen Gulf, stormed the residence of the revered Imam around 12:30 am on Monday, October 30, 2023.

In addition to this horrific act, the insurgents set fire to some of the deceased Imam’s valuable books.

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The late Imam, renowned as an Islamic scholar, was a prominent figure in the community.

Sources from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) have indicated that this operation bore the hallmarks of terrorist activities.

One source within the CJTF detailed, “On Sunday night, unidentified gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram members, attacked the home of the Chief Imam of Kaga LGA, Imam Goni Muktar, and fatally injured him.”

The source revealed that one of the vigilantes on duty was forcibly abducted during the attack.

Remarkably, this marks the second Chief Imam within Kaga to be killed in a span of two months.

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At present, the exact reasons behind this appalling incident remain unclear. The Chief Imam was interred on Monday afternoon.

Hon. Mustapha Bukar Baima, the Caretaker Chairman of the Kaga council area, expressed profound shock regarding the recent terrorist attacks that have led to several fatalities.

He confirmed the killing of the Chief Imam of Benisheikh, alongside his brother, and the abduction of two hunters in the vicinity.

He explained, “Yes, we received a distress call that Boko Haram terrorists gunned down our Chief Imam of Beneshiekh Jummat Mosque in his house at about 1:15 am on Monday.”

The Chairman went on to elaborate on the unfortunate circumstances, detailing how the terrorists initially invaded the house of an Islamic Scholar, but upon realizing their target did not match the Chief Imam’s description, they instructed the Scholar to return home.

Subsequently, the assailants proceeded to another house where the Chief Imam was engaged in prayer. Once they confirmed his identity, they opened fire, taking his life.

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In a final act of desecration, they set some Islamic books ablaze following the murder. The late Chief Imam was promptly laid to rest, adhering to Islamic customs.

In a further display of violence, another group of insurgents abducted two hunters in Makinta Kururi. These events unfolded in conjunction with the death of the late Chief Imam’s younger brother.

Hon. Baima offered condolences to the grieving families and prayed for the departed souls.

Military authorities have been apprised of these distressing developments and are presently engaged in efforts to apprehend the fleeing terrorists.