A group of suspected Boko Haram militants killed more than 60 people at a funeral in northeastern Nigeria over the weekend, in what would be the region’s deadliest attack of the year.
Chairman of the local government council, Muhammad Bulama, told local media that the group had recently attacked the same village, Badu, but villagers had fought them back, leading to a possible case of revenge from the violent Islamist group.
“The villagers resisted the attack, killed 11 insurgents and recovered 10 AK-47 rifles in the encounter,” Bulama said. “On Saturday at about 11:40 a.m., the insurgents came on a reprisal mission, attacked mourners at a graveyard, killed over 60 persons and injuring 11 others.”
A number of those attending the funeral were reportedly killed immediately during the attack, while others died trying to fight back the gunmen.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman Malam Garba Shehu said that the Nigerian military has launched an operation to track down the attackers and would bolster defensive forces for people living in camps for internally displaced people in the area.
“The federal government is firmly and resolutely committed to taking necessary measures to safeguard the nation’s security,” Shehu said. “This administration is determined to end the menace of terrorism.”
The terrorist group, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2015, is known for capturing almost 300 schoolgirls in the Chibok region in 2014. The case drew international attention. Since the abductions, dozens have escaped or been released, although more than 100 still remain missing.
