Boko-Haram Attack In Borno, Many Killed , Houses & Vehicles Burnt

Suspected Islamist insurgents
dressed in military uniforms set up checkpoints in an
attack in Nigeria’s northeast, killing an unclear number
of people and burning dozens of buildings, residents and
authorities said Wednesday.
The attack on Tuesday evening in the Benishiek
community in Borno state saw suspected members of
Islamist extremist group Boko Haram invade the area,
attacking residents and motorists.
A Borno state government official said at least five local
residents were killed in addition to an unclear number of
motorists travelling through the area, while about 50
buildings housing shops and homes were burnt.
“Based on the information at hand, only five residents of
the area were killed,” said Garba Ngamdu, an adviser to
the state governor.
“A large chunk of the victims were motorists travelling
on the highway, although we do not have a tentative
figure yet.”
An army spokesman confirmed the attack and said a
number of residents and tanker drivers had been killed,
but declined to provide further details.
Residents recounted seeing bodies along the roadside
and said the attackers were singling out those from
Borno state.
The reason why was not immediately clear, but Boko
Haram members have repeatedly carried out revenge
attacks against residents over the emergence of
vigilante groups that have formed to assist the military.
“The militants arrived in military vans and uniforms
around 6:00 pm (1700 GMT),” Mallam Isa Manu, a
motorist who escaped unhurt, told journalists in the
Borno state capital Maiduguri.
“They set up checkpoints on the Damaturu-Maiduguri
highway and ordered motorists to park and identify
themselves.”
Benishiek was also the scene of clashes on September 8
between suspected Boko Haram gunmen and vigilantes.
Five Islamists and 13 vigilantes were reported to have
been killed.
A military offensive launched in May aiming to end Boko
Haram’s four-year insurgency appears to have pushed
the extremists outside of major cities and into more
remote areas, where attacks have been occurring.
Separately on Wednesday, the military claimed a strike
on a Boko Haram camp in the northeast last week left
about 150 Islamists and 16 soldiers dea