Boko Haram kills 34 in Nigeria

Soldiers based in Konduga killed the 12 gunmen

MAIDUGURI: Suspected Boko Haram fighters killed at least 34 and injured several others in attacks on villages near Chibok and Konduga in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state earlier this week, residents and local officials said on Saturday.

Boko Haram gunmen attacked Gatamarwa, Lehu and Makalawa villages near Chibok on Thursday. File Pic

The gunmen attacked the Tamsu-Shehuri village on Wednesday night where they killed more than 12 people. “Many of them came riding on bikes and Hilux vans, and all of them were armed with rifles,” said Aisami Bashir, a member of a local civilian
protection militia.

Soldiers kill gunmen
“They opened fire on the village, broke into homes and looted belongings,” he added. Later gunmen hit a nearby village, Ladi-Shehuri, where they killed and burned a man in his car. Soldiers from Konduga responded and killed about a dozen of the attackers. “The soldiers in Konduga killed the 12 gunmen,” he said.

Soldiers based in Konduga have earned a reputation of foiling dozens of attacks launched by Boko Haram on the town, he said.  Suspected Boko Haram fighters on Thursday attacked Chibok, the town where in April last year Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls who are still missing. Twenty-one people were killed this week in coordinated attacks on communities around Chibok, said Suleiman Ali an official.

Boko Haram also attacked Gatamarwa, Lehu and Makalawa near Chibok. Meanwhile, the Nigerian army said it has retaken the north-eastern town of Baga, held by militants since January 3. In a tweet, the army said there had been heavy casualties and that “mopping up”operations were underway.  

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