Nigeria: at least 50 dead in new jihadist attack

Villages along Lake Chad are often the target of Boko haram. (Drawing). SIA KAMBOU / AFP

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In Nigeria, in the northeast of the country, jihadist groups have been singled out, in particular the Islamic State group in West Africa, the branch of Boko Haram affiliated with IS. After a particularly deadly attack on June 9 in the district of Gubio, Borno State, an entire village was burned down, and at least 59 people died.

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The attack occurred on June 9 in the early afternoon in the village of Felo. According to local officials cited by AFP, some residents were killed, others run over by vehicles of alleged jihadists. Dozens of terrorists traveling by motorbike are said to have set fire to a large part of the village houses.

Revenge

In the eyes of some customary officials, this attack sounds like revenge on the part of alleged terrorists. A few weeks ago, in fact, self-defense militias in the Gubio district, made up of hunters in particular to protect pastoralists from theft of cattle, violently repelled the arrival of alleged jihadists in this area. Insurgents were reportedly killed in the clash.

Other sources cited by the Reuters agency indicate that the jihadists accuse the villagers of sharing information with the army in order to protect their productions against possible attacks.

This incursion against civilians comes as the army multiplies air strikes in the northwest of the country and communicates these last days on the surrender of several members of the West African branch of the Islamic State, surrenders linked according to l army after the exhaustion of certain combatants.

► Read also: Who are the jihadists in West Africa? (1/2)

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  • Nigeria
  • Terrorism

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