Share

Boko Haram kills 'dozens' in NE Nigeria - locals

Kano - Boko Haram gunmen on horseback killed dozens of people in a village in northeast Nigeria's Borno state near the border with Cameroon, local eyewitnesses told AFP on Wednesday.

The incident took place on Monday morning in Fatawe village near Gwoza, where around 100 Boko Haram militants rounding up residents, tying their hands behind their backs then slitting their throats, they said.

"They killed several dozens but I can't give a precise number because we have yet to go back and take a headcount of the dead" said Amodu Kadir, a village resident who fled to Mubi village in neighbouring Adamawa state.

"The attackers who we have no doubt are Boko Haram gunmen came to the village around 10:30 and rounded up everyone including women and children after surrounding the village," he said.

"They fired several warning shots in the air before they began to tie the hands of adult males behind their back and slaughtered them while other residents watched in horror," he said.

Kadir, whose father was among the victims, said the "macabre sight sent the terrified crowd fleeing in all directions in a frenzied effort to escape.

Offensive against the insurgents

"But the attackers pursued us on their horses, shooting and trampling to death their victims," he said.

Galadima Bubba, another resident who fled to the town of Michika, gave a similar account.

"The attackers killed many people in our village when they attacked on Monday. They slaughtered some, and shot and trampled those who tried to flee under the hooves of their horses," he said.

He said the village had ignored advice by Nigerian troops to relocate to Gwoza, 8km away, after troops retook the town from Boko Haram forces in March.

News of the attack was slow to emerge due to the near absence of communication in the region following the earlier destruction of telecom towers by Boko Haram.

Boko Haram militants had seized Gwoza in July last year and made it into the headquarters of their so-called Caliphate.

The hardline Islamists have in recent weeks been raiding villages in northeast Borno state on horseback as Nigerian troops intensify their offensive against the insurgents.

At least 80 people were killed at the weekend in Boko Haram raids on three villages in the region, including at nearby Hambagda where seven Muslim worshippers were killed.

Attacks by Boko Haram, which seeks to impose a strict Islamic system in northern Nigeria, have killed at least 15 000 people and displaced 1.5 million since 2009.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
42% - 366 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
58% - 500 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.89
+0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.44
+0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.1%
Platinum
908.75
+1.3%
Palladium
1,014.28
+1.3%
Gold
2,219.42
+1.1%
Silver
24.83
+0.8%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE