Militants kill 60 in attacks in northeast Nigeria
Iran Press TV
Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:51PM GMT
Suspected members of the militant group Boko Haram have killed at least 60 people in Nigeria's troubled northeastern Borno state close to the border with Cameroon.
'The attackers, who are no doubt Boko Haram insurgents, attacked Amchaka and nearby villages this morning, hurling IEDs (improvised explosive devices) into homes and setting them on fire,' AFP quoted Baba Shehu Gulumba, Bama local government administrator, as saying on Sunday.
'They then went on a shooting spree, opening fire on confused residents as they tried to flee, killing 60 people and injuring several others,' Gulumba added.
He said the attackers used trucks, motorcycles and two armored vehicles in the attacks.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has been rocked by growing violence in recent years.
On May 15, 2013, the Nigerian army launched an offensive against Boko Haram militants a day after President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the three northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa.
Boko Haram -- whose name means "Western education is forbidden" -- says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.
The group has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly gun and bomb attacks in various parts of Nigeria since 2009.
MN/MAM/AS
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