Over 40 killed in Boko Haram attacks in northeast Nigeria
Takfiri Boko Haram militants have killed more than 40 people in a series of attacks in Nigeria’s northeastern state of Borno, local residents say.
Witnesses and local residents said on Thursday that at least 43 people lost their lives after dozens of Boko Haram militants on motorcycles stormed the villages of Matangale, Buraltima and Dirmanti in the restive Nigerian state on Tuesday.
Sources said that the heavily-armed militants opened indiscriminate fire on villagers and set several homes on fire across the region. There were also reports of looting during the deadly raids.
The incident comes as Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Abuja should lead a regional anti-Boko Haram force in anti-militancy operations.
Buhari told a meeting of African officials on Thursday that proposals for a six-month rotating command between the regional nations could hamper operations against the militants.
The remarks come as senior officials from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin have come together in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to discuss ways to confront the terror threat posed by Boko Haram.
They are discussing the formation of an 8,700-strong force comprising troops from the five African nations.
Soldiers from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger have already been fighting Boko Haram militants in recent months.
Boko Haram militancy has left some 15,000 people dead and around 1.5 million others displaced over the past six years.
JR/MKA/HMV
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