Borno state crisis

Scores feared killed by gunmen in Nigeria's Borno State: sources English.news.cn   2013-08-13 05:44:39               MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Scores of people were feared dead and more than 25 others sustained various degrees of injury in a bloody attack by gunmen in Konduga local government and Mafa local government areas of northeast Nigeria's Borno State, multiple sources reported on Monday. Ali Bukar Dalori, a member of the state legislative arm, representing Konduga Constituency, confirmed the killings to a Xinhua reporter, saying he was yet to get full details of the incident which occurred on Sunday. "Although I do not know the real casualties figure for now, I was reliably informed that many people lost their lives and some who were injured were rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for treatment," he said, adding the death of his constituents came as a rude shock. "I will be going to the hospital to see the victims and I think the governor will soon go to see things for himself. But whatever it is, many people were killed," he said further. A source at the UMTH who spoke on condition of anonymity told Xinhua that more than 25 victims of the attacks were brought to the hospital for treatment. The source could not, however, confirm the actual number of people killed but said more than 40 were feared dead. The hospital source said many residents of the affected local government areas scampered for safety on Monday morning when they sought refuge in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. Military authorities in Borno State declined to confirm the attacks. But a top military officer who craved for anonymity said the victims were more than 30. "Investigation has commenced on the killings," the source added. Borno State, located in Nigeria's northeast region, is a flashpoint of attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram since 2009, when the sect launched its insurgency targeting churches, security facilities, schools and villages. A week ago, 35 people were killed by gunmen who stormed a Mobile Police Base at Bama Town and another military facility at Malum Fatori area of the state.