MAIDUGURI, Nigeria: An attack on a village in Northeast Nigeria killed at least 110 dead which is being blamed on the Boko Haram jihadist group. The incident was reported by the UN humanitarian coordinator in the country.
Initial tolls indicated 43 and then at least 70 dead , which was later confirmed to be more than 110 by Edward Kallon. This incident, which took place in the village of Koshabe near the main city of Maiduguri is considered to be the most violent direct attack on innocent civilians in this year.
The assailants tied up the agricultural workers and slit their throats, according to a pro-government anti-jihadist militia.
The victims were among labourers from Sokoto state in northwestern Nigeria, roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) away, who had travelled to the northeast to find work, it said.
Six were wounded in the attack and eight remained missing as of Saturday.
Kallon, citing “reports that several women may have been kidnapped”, called for their immediate release and return to safety.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack, saying: “The entire country has been wounded by these senseless killings.”
The attack took place as voters went to the polls in long-delayed local elections in Borno State.
The polls had been repeatedly postponed because of an increase in attacks by Boko Haram and a rival dissident faction, ISWAP.
The two groups have been blamed for increasing attacks on loggers, farmers and fishermen whom they accuse of spying for the army and pro-government militias.
