Frustration Sets In As Boko Haram Attacks Motorists, Burns Houses And Shops

Suspected Islamist insurgents dressed in military
uniforms set up checkpoints in an attack in Nigeria’s
northeast, killing an unclear number of people and
burning dozens of buildings, residents and authorities
said Wednesday.
The attack on Tuesday evening in the Benishiek
community in Borno state saw suspected members of
Islamist extremist group Boko Haram invade the area,
attacking residents and motorists.
A Borno state government official said at least five
local residents were killed in addition to an unclear
number of motorists travelling through the area,
while about 50 buildings housing shops and homes
were burnt.
“Based on the information at hand, only five residents
of the area were killed,” said Garba Ngamdu, an
adviser to the state governor.
“A large chunk of the victims were motorists travelling
on the highway, although we do not have a tentative
figure yet.”
An army spokesman confirmed the attack and said a
number of residents and tanker drivers had been
killed, but declined to provide further details.
Residents recounted seeing bodies along the roadside
and said the attackers were singling out those from
Borno state.
The reason why was not immediately clear, but Boko
Haram members have repeatedly carried out revenge
attacks against residents over the emergence of
vigilante groups that have formed to assist the
military.
“The militants arrived in military vans and uniforms
around 6:00 pm (1700 GMT),” Mallam Isa Manu, a
motorist who escaped unhurt, told journalists in the
Borno state capital Maiduguri.
“They set up checkpoints on the Damaturu-Maiduguri
highway and ordered motorists to park and identify
themselves.” (AFP)