Suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed 11 people in an attack on a remote town in Gajigama, Borno State, burning houses and forcing residents to flee, a local official and a witness said Thursday.
“We have lost 11 of our innocent people,” said Zarami Kolo, a senior local government official. “The terrorists also injured (several) people and set on fire every single house in the village.”
Although the raid began on Wednesday evening, details only emerged later due to poor connectivity in the area.
The insurgents stormed the village and began indiscriminate shooting forcing residents to flee as they scamper for safety.
“The town is no more and our people are in distress,” Kolo said.
Vanguard quoted one of the fleeing residents, Ibrahim Habibu, as saying he lost his brother to the attack.
“I lost my brother and as I am talking to you, I don’t even know the whereabouts of my wife and two children.
“I made it to (the Borno state capital) Maiduguri after trekking through the bush overnight,” Habibu added. “Many of our people are still wandering in the bush,” he said.
Boko Haram attacks have intensified lately as the 2015 elections draw nearer. Many have said this may get worse towards the tail end of the year and in the weeks before the elections.
The insurgency which started in 2009 is said to have killed over 10,000 people and displaced over one million.
