Gunmen kill 52, set 300 houses ablaze

MAIDUGURI—BORNO, the epicentre of the Boko Haram murderous attacks literally burnt on Sunday as gunmen numbering over 50  invaded Kawuri District of Konduga Local Government Area of the state and set ablaze over 300 houses and shops after killing 52 people including a soldier, and wounding several others including policemen and civilians.

In neighbouring Adamawa State, several people, including two policemen were also feared killed as gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members attacked a church in Chakawa village of Madagali Local Government Area.

Some residents of the affected village who fled the area told newsmen that they were attacked during the Sunday service in the morning.

However, the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lawal Tanko, who confirmed the deadly attack in Kawuri town to journalists in Maiduguri, said  40 people were killed while 25 others sustained gunshot wounds and burn injuries.

The Borno attack, which was carried out at about 5pm on a market day led to many traders and residents sustaining injuries. Some of the injured are now receiving treatment at Konduga General Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

Kawuri District is one of the towns in Konduga, which is along Maiduguri-Bama Expressway, about 60 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.

This is the second time the town is being attacked. The first was in October last year when some Boko Haram suspects clashed with vigilante youths popularly known as civilian JTF, which led to the killing of 10 people including three youths, while 18 were injured and over 48 shops and 200 houses were burnt in the attack.

Source: Vanguard