80 killed in fresh Boko Haram attacks

Boko Haram is at it again. At least, 80 villagers were on Tues­day killed in separate attacks on three border communities, southeast of Borno State, relations of the victims said yesterday. A source said some gunmen sneaked into Attagara, Apapalawa and Aganjara villages in Gwoza Local Government Area, about 140 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital. Daily Sun learnt that the armed men who wore military uniforms and drove to the town in many vehicles painted in military colour, gathered the community and told them they were troops on dialogue mission, unknown to the villagers they were insur­gents. “They used the same method in the three villages, but those who were quick to realise that they are not military personnel, ran away and survived the attacks, though some of the villagers were also pursued and killed,” the source who did not want his name in print, said. He noted that the insurgents attacked the villages on Tuesday morning. He said the corpses still lay on the streets of the three villages as residents have fled the communities in fear. “We are just mak­ing efforts to go there to evacuate the bodies for burial, but we can’t do this without pro­tection from the military,” he added. The attackers burnt down almost all the houses and churches in the three communi­ties, another source claimed. He said the attack was a reprisal following the killing of five Boko Haram terrorists at Attagara on Sunday in a church. Recall that Boko Haram gunmen riding on motorcycles fired shots at worshippers in a church at Attagara on Sunday during service, killing nine people, mostly men who were keeping watch on the church. The attackers were reportedly pursued as five of them were killed by a vigilance group. The area is predominantly occupied by Christians. A security source said the com­munities behind the Gwoza hills are vulner­able to Boko Haram attacks because of the difficult terrain. The source said it was not easy for troops to secure the area.