Report has it that at least 81 people have been killed in an attack on a herding village in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state, security sources and residents said.
The fighters who drove into remote Felo village in Gubio district, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the regional capital Maiduguri, on Tuesday afternoon, opening fire on residents.
A community leader who asked not to be named said the attack occurred as “men and children” watched over their cattle at a watering hole outside the village.
He said the attackers followed the people of the community with their cars and motorcycles and drove over them, resulting in these deaths,” he said. “A lot of people are saying that several other people are missing in that community.”
“Our people were caught off guard by the gunmen who surrounded them,” the leader said.
“It is an open field with nowhere to hide,” he said. “They couldn’t escape, they couldn’t outrun the vehicles.”
Residents told reporters on Wednesday the attack was thought to be retaliation for the earlier killing of members of an armed group by a local self-defence unit formed to protect against attacks and the theft of herd animals in the village and surrounding area.
State governor Babagana Zulum visited the community Wednesday, saying that seven people, included the village head, had also abducted in the violence. He called the attack “barbaric”. Africa-News reports.