Nigeria’s Boko Haram Kills 87 in Borno Ambush

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Thursday, September 19th, 2013

At least 87 people have been killed in an attack by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state, according to local officials.

Disguised in military uniforms, the militants set up checkpoints outside the town of Benisheik and shot dead those trying to flee, witnesses said.

They also razed dozens of buildings in Tuesday’s attack.

Boko Haram, which wants to create an Islamic state across Nigeria, has waged a deadly insurgency since 2009.

Communications with Borno state have been severely disrupted since May, when a state of emergency was declared in Borno and two neighbouring states.

But attacks have increased recently despite a massive military deployment to worst-affected areas.

Local vigilante groups have been formed to help counter the militants but scores of these volunteers have been killed in recent weeks.

Borno state governor Kashim Shettima visited the scene on Thursday, and described the killings as “barbaric and un-Islamic”, and pledged financial assistance to relatives of the victims.

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