“Since it has started losing control of territory, Boko Haram has reverted to hit-and-run attacks on villages as well as suicide bombings on places of worship and markets”.
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The death toll could have been even higher since the gunmen tried to enter a camp housing almost 25,000 refugees near Dalori.
Boko Haram militants seeking to impose strict Islamic rule have been carrying out vicious attacks in parts of northern Nigeria for the last six years.
Saturday night’s attack is the third and the deadliest attack in a week following Friday’s attack in Adamawa which left 10 dead and Wednesday’s bomb blasts in Chibok which killed 16. Boko Haram fighters opened fire on residents, set fire to houses and targeted a crowd with suicide bombers, as seen on pictures that show the result of the attack with burned-out buildings and charred livestock.
“We were seated outside our home shortly after the Isha prayer when we heard gunshots and within a few minutes the invaders had arrived”, Malam Masa Dalori, a community leader, told AFP. The deputy commander, Muhammad Abba, said Cameroonians arriving Monday “began to shoot sporadically”. “Many people ran to the bush including myself”, he said. In response, Cameroon said its soldiers crossed into Nigeria and killed 17 insurgents.
“When we came back in the morning the entire community has been razed. Unknown to them one of the suicide bombers sneaked into the midst of the gathering and detonated explosive devices killing scores of people and injuring many”.
Another villager, Mallam Hassan, gave a similar account.
Kanar said normalcy had returned to the area as those that fled in the wake of the attack had returned. But I thank God I escaped with my children’. Dr. Mshelia informed him that the death count was now at 85 dead and that between 65-70 wounded were brought to State specialist Hospital, and a further ten were at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Several children were also amongst the those who were burnt alive.
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Nigeria’s President Muhhamadu Buhari’s bold statement that the group is “technically defeated” only sparked outrage and deliberately caused Boko Haram to inflict danger to the small villages in the country.
