Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Boko Haram jihadists killed at least seven people in a Christmas Eve assault on a village in Nigeria ’ s restive northeast, local sources told
AFP Friday.
Security agencies had in recent days warned of an increased risk of attack during the Christian holiday .
Fighters in trucks and motorcycles stormed Pemi, a predominantly Christian village in Borno state Thursday, shooting “ indiscriminately ” and setting buildings on fire , said Abwaku Kabu , a militia leader .
In many parts of Nigeria , communities have resorted for self -defence to armed vigilantes or militias , who work alongside the army .
“ The terrorists killed seven people, burnt 10 homes and looted food supplies that were meant to be distributed to residents to celebrate Christmas , ” Kabu said .
A body was found Friday morning, local community leader Ayuba Alamson said , raising the number of dead to seven .
The toll could rise as villagers fled into the bush during the attack and some people are still unaccounted for
.
The assailants , who drove from the group ’ s nearby Sambisa forest enclave , looted medical supplies from a hospital before setting it ablaze , the militia leader said , adding they also burnt a church and abducted a priest .
The village is located only 20 kilometres ( 12 miles) from Chibok , where Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls six years ago .
Separately Thursday, gunmen attacked another Christian community in Garkida , in neighbouring Adamawa state, looting drug stores and food supplies before torching homes, residents told AFP.
There were no reports of casualties from that attack .
Nigeria ’ s security agency, the Department of State Services , issued a warning Tuesday about planned attacks .
The DSS asked Nigerians “ to be extra vigilant and report strange movements” while assuring that it was “ collaborating with other sister agencies to ensure that adequate measures are put in place for the protection of lives and property . President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement Thursday “ reiterated the promise of his administration to remain unyielding in confronting the Boko Haram insurgency as well as other forms of criminality . ”
“ For me , providing security for all residents in the country remains an article of faith , ” Buhari said in a written Christmas message.
The 78- year -old urged citizens to volunteer “ intelligence /information on activities of armed bandits , insurgents and other criminal elements within their communities in order to put an end to this blight. ”
The decade- long conflict in Nigeria ’ s northeast has killed 36, 000 people and displaced around two million from their homes, according to the United Nations .
Violence has spread to neighbouring Niger , Chad and Cameroon, prompting regional countries to form a military coalition to fight the jihadist groups.
AFP
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