ABUJA, September 20 2013(CISA) – At least 87 people have been killed in an attack by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno state, according to local officials.
Disguised in military uniforms, the militants set up checkpoints outside the town of Benisheik and shot dead those trying to flee, witnesses said.
According to BBC news, the rebels also razed dozens of buildings in the September 17 attack.
Boko Haram, which wants to create an Islamic state across Nigeria, has waged a deadly insurgency in the country since 2009.
Communications with Borno state have been severely disrupted since May, when a state of emergency was declared in Borno and two neighbouring states. Despite heavy military deployments to worst affected areas attacks have increased in recent months.
Local vigilante groups have been formed to help counter the militants but scores of these volunteers have been killed in recent weeks.
Borno state governor Kashim Shettima visited the scene on Thursday September 19, and described the killings as “barbaric and un-Islamic”, and pledged financial assistance to relatives of the victims.
Benisheik was also the scene of fierce clashes earlier this month, which reportedly left five militants and 13 vigilante members dead.
The town lies 70km west of the state capital, Maiduguri, where Boko Haram was founded.
SHARED FROM CISA NEWS AFRICA
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