Dozens of people killed in assault on village in Nigeria’s Borno State

In an attack on a village in northeastern Borno State where residents had recently returned after years of displacement, at least 55 people were killed by fighters.

Residents of Darul Jama, which is close to the Cameroon border, reported that the raid took place on Friday night when Boko Haram-related fighters rode motorcycles, shooting indiscriminately and setting homes on fire.

Different theories exist regarding the number of deaths. A government-aligned militia commander, Bagana Ibrahim, reported to the AFP that six soldiers were among the 55 people killed.

According to the traditional Darul Jama leader, who requested anonymity, more bodies had been found by Saturday morning and more people were still missing in the surrounding bush.

They “killed men and left women behind,” they said, “and went house to house.” More than 20 homes and 10 buses were destroyed, he told the agency, adding that almost every house was affected.

In recent months, Nigeria’s military has increased operations in Borno State in an effort to contain militias and ISIL (ISIS) affiliates in West Africa Province (ISWAP).

According to AFP, a Boko Haram commander named Ali Ngulde is reportedly in charge of the area, claiming to be his leader.

The military had been warned for three days about Boko Haram gathering close to the village, according to resident Babagana Mala, who fled with soldiers to Bama town, which is 46 kilometers (29 miles) away, but no reinforcements were sent.

He claimed that they had taken the soldiers’ lives and fled to Bama with him.

Many of the victims were known to have recently been moved from the Bama government secondary school displacement camp, which the government shut down this year.

Hajja Fati, a mother of five who lost her brother in the attack, claimed, “The government told us we would be safe here.” We are now burying our country once more.

The attack raises questions about Nigeria’s recent efforts to relocate people to rural areas and close camps.

Since 2009, Boko Haram has been fighting bloody hell to establish a caliphate in northeastern Nigeria, killing about 40 000 people and forcing more than two million people to flee their homes.

In 2016, ISWAP left the group.