Islamist terror group Boko Haram has killed 69 people in the northern Borno state of Nigeria. Attacking the village of Faduma Koloram in Gubio local government area, the men arrived on motorcycles, shooting at random with AK-47s, razing the village and poaching 1,200 cattle and camels.
A resident, a Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) member and a soldier all confirmed the same account of what happened. They stated:
"The men attacked because they suspected residents of sharing information on Boko Haram‘s movements with security authorities. It’s an unfortunate day for us to witness this.” According to a member of the CJTF, local residents were armed and had managed to repel previous attacks. This time, however, they were caught off guard. “They took us unaware and killed our people," he said.
Boko Haram has been attacking the Nigerian Christian community for years, killing thousands over its more than ten-year reign of terror. In 2018, the group launched a notorious kidnapping raid on a school in Dapchi. The sole Christian of the group, Leah Sharibu, remains in Boko Haram captivity.
Earlier this year, the group executed a prominent pastor, Reverend Lawan Andimi, who served as the chair of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Adamawa state.
Experts estimate that over 30,000 people have died at the hands of the group since they arrived on the scene a decade ago; more than 2.3 million people are thought to have been displaced as a result of the group's terror activities.
