Boko Haram Kills 10 In Nigeria
A group of gunmen suspected to be part of the terrorist group Boko Haram has killed 10 people in Nigeria fleeing their homes from insurgent attacks. According to Yahoo News, witnesses observed Boko Haram hunting the victims down in a nearby village.
Boko Haram raided the village Krenuwa last month, killing 7 people and causing the rest of the residents to seek refuge in nearby communities. The extremists, Boko Haram, attacked and destroyed a military camp, a police station and several homes. Some of those escapees have now been found in Durwa and Maforo in the Marte district. Boko Haram raided the areas and killed 10 of the refugees.
Six were killed by the suspected Boko Haram gunmen in the attack on Durwa. Shortly after, Boko Haram raided Maforo and killed four more, according to Hassan Goni, a Durwa resident and witness who fled to Maiduguri. Goni claimed they fled the area in fear that the Boko Haram gunmen would return for more attacks.
“[Boko Haram] shot six of them dead and slaughtered four,” said Usman Ari, another Durwa resident. “They came on motorcycles and gathered people before singling out their victims who moved in from Krenuwa after it was attacked.”
A counter-offensive attack took place shortly after the storming of Krenuwa. Soldiers killed five Boko Haram insurgents and captured five others.
Last year, Boko Haram forced out the government in the Marte district, causing President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency and start a military offensive to fight back against Boko Haram. Despite the scorched-earth military response, violent Boko Haram attacks have persisted in the area.
According to the BBC, some soldiers in north-eastern Nigeria are refusing to resist the Boko Haram uprising until they receive better equipment. An anonymous soldier told the BBC that he and about 40 other soldiers were refusing orders to deploy. He explained that soldiers have not been given sufficient weapons or ammunition to combat the uprising.
“Soldiers are dying like fowl,” said the soldier. “The Nigerian army is not ready to fight Boko Haram. Boko Haram are inside the bush, everywhere. They [senior commanders] are sacrificing soldiers.”
Defence ministry spokesman Gen Chris Olukolade responded that the mutiny was being investigated and denied that any soldiers are being “sent to die.”
“We may not have all it takes but we are improving [equipment] regularly,” said Olukolade.
Earlier this week, 85 hostages taken by Boko Haram forces were rescued, which is the first bit of good news from the area in awhile. Check back with The Inquisitr for more updates on the Boko Haram situation in Nigeria.
