At least 24 people are feared dead following an attack by Boko Haram in Borno State, Nigeria. This is the most recent attack by the insurgent group after the kidnap of 270 girls on April 14.
Around 24 Borno villagers were reportedly slain in an attack by Boko Haram militants in Kamuyya, Borno, Nigeria yesterday, 25 May 2014. Within the past week, fighting has been intensifying between the rebel group and government forces following the kidnap of 270 schoolgirls on April 14th while around 100 people are feared dead in Boko-Haram related attacks in other rural areas.
Witnesses report that the latest attack was the result of the village's failure to pay a tax amounting to N250,000, a great sum for a community comprising of farmers and petty merchants. Boko Haram allegedly visited the town in March telling residents to settle the amount by May or the town and its residents would face unspecified consequences. The village was only able to collect N70,000 which drew the ire of the terrorist group.
Bukar Umar, a Borno resident, admits the village took the threat lightly and refused to exert additional effort to meet the amount requested. "Maybe that was what ignited this bloody attack because we were unable to meet their demand," he says.
According to Umar, some 20 militants opened fire at a crowd in the Kamuyya market with what he identified as "sophisticated weapons." The mass shooting was followed by mass arson as the militants set several vehicles on fire. Shops were also razed and some merchandise stolen throughout the 5-hour raid.
Umar expressed his disappointment at the absence of security forces during the attack. "throughout the onslaught, which lasted over five hours, there was no single security personnel to confront the invaders as they had a field day."
It is believed that 100 homes were also burned or damaged during the attack. The militants were last seen moving into the main town of Kamuyya, their plans unknown.
