Boko Haram kill villagers in Christmas Eve attack

From AFP via the BBC and the Daily Mail 

Several people are dead in northeast Nigeria after Boko Haram militants raided a mostly Christian village and burnt down a church on Christmas Eve. Local sources said at least 11 people had been killed, according to AFP news.

Fighters rode into Pemi, in Borno state, on trucks and motorbikes shooting indiscriminately, a local leader told the news agency.

On Thursday, fighters stormed Pemi as security officials had warned an attack on the Christian holiday was likely. Villagers fled into the bush and some are still said to be missing.

“The terrorists killed seven people, burnt 10 homes and looted food supplies that were meant to be distributed to residents to celebrate Christmas,” militia leader Abwaku Kabu said. The attackers burnt a church, abducted a priest and stole medical supplies from a hospital, before setting it on fire.

‘Four more dead bodies have been found in the nearby bushes by search and rescue volunteers,’ local community leader Ayuba Alamson said Friday. ‘This has moved the death toll to 11.’

In a separate raid on Thursday, gunmen attacked another Christian community in Garkida in the neighbouring Adamawa state, looting drug stores and food supplies before torching homes, residents claimed. There were no reports of casualties.

Nigeria’s security agency had earlier this week asked Nigerians ‘to be extra vigilant and report strange movements.’