Lives at stake do not want to be caught unwares as they flee from the recidence to save their lives..
The massacre in Konduga in
the embattled northeastern state of Borno happened early Sunday and has
been blamed on the Islamist group Boko Haram, responsible for hundreds
of deaths in the region.
The attack at Mafa district left 12 people dead, according to
local officials. Details have been slow to emerge amid a phone blackout
imposed by the military in the area.
One
woman said she was heading with her two daughters to the state capital
Maiduguri roughly 30 kilometres (18 miles) away after her husband and
son were shot dead in the attack.
“They were killed by Boko Haram in the mosque,” she said, requesting anonymity.
Officials had previously given a death of toll of 44, but local leaders later said that 47 people had been killed.
Zanna
Masu Yale, district head in Konduga, said “43 bodies were counted in
the morning, but we discovered four more corpses later,” adding that 36
people had been injured.
Resident Babagana Bulama said the gunmen
arrived in the town early Sunday morning as people were gathering for
morning prayers at a mosque in the Tsohuwar Kasuwa area.
“They came through the western side of our town in convoy of cars. They were in military camouflage,” he said.
Boko Haram has previously all dressed up in camoflag military uniforms while carrying out attacks.
The
attacks at the weekend were believed to be in revenge over citizen
vigilante groups forming to help the military battle Boko Haram, which
has been waging an insurgency since 2009.
The violence came as
Nigeria’s military pursues an offensive in the country’s northeast aimed
at ending the insurgency, with a state of emergency declared in the
region in May.
The military has encouraged the formation of
vigilante groups to help authorities locate and arrest members of Boko
Haram. Despite showing some successes, many fear the vigilantes will
make matters worse.
Boko
Haram has claimed to be fighting for the creation of an Islamic state
in Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer.
No comments :
Post a Comment