Islamist fighters went on the rampage in northeast Nigeria overnight,
killing 10 Christians with guns and machetes and burning down their
houses, witnesses said on Sunday.
The attack happened in a village called Chibok, in a remote part of
northeastern Borno state, at the heart of an insurgency led by
Islamist sect Boko Haram.
"Suspected Boko Haram came at night and set people's houses on fire
before killing their victims," said Nuhu Clark, a former
localcouncillor of the village who escaped the attack.
He said he counted ten bodies afterwards.
A police spokesman said they were aware ofthe incident but were still
trying to confirm casualties.
Islamist fighters have killed hundreds of people since launching an
uprising against the government in 2009, the usual targets being
security forces, government officials or Christians, whom Boko Haram
sees as infidels.
But the insecurity the conflict has created has also enabled criminal
gangs who are nothing to do with the sect kill and rob.
In a separate incident, militants burned down three churches on
Saturday in Gamboru, also in Borno state, said trader Umar Abubakar,
who witnessed the attack.
Such attacks on Christians seem calculated to ignite sectarian
tensions in Africa's most populous nation, which is split roughly
evenly between Muslims and Christians. Theymostly live side by side in
peace, although bouts of violence between the communities sometimes
flare up.
Boko Haram, which wants to carve out an Islamic state in northern
Nigeria, has been blamed for more than 1,000 deaths since
itsinsurgency intensified in 2010.
The United States has designated three of Boko Haram'ssenior members
as terrorists.
Its leader Abubakar Shekau praised jihadist movements across the globe
on Thursday ina new video, and singled out the United States, Britain,
Israel and Nigeria as enemies.
No comments:
Post a Comment