By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
No fewer than 11 people have been killed in Pemi, Born State by suspected Boko Haram members in the Christmas eve – Thursday December 24, 2020.
The terrorists struck the predominantly Christian village, close to Chibok, where about 200 schoolgirls were abducted in 2014, in the night with trucks and motorcycles.
AFP reports that the militants raided the village and burnt down a church on the Christmas eve.
Besides, Boko Haram fighters have carried out a number of attacks in northern Nigeria where they are fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state.
They promote a version of Islam that forbids Muslims from taking part in activity not derived from Islamic tradition. Boko Haram loosely translates to mean “western education is forbidden”.
The group’s most infamous attack targeted schoolgirls in Chibok in 2014 and held many captive for years.
Recall that
security officials had warned of an attack on the Christian holiday was likely.
Villagers were said to have fled into the bush and some are still said to be missing since the attack.
“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 told AFP.
The attackers burnt a church, abducted a priest and stole medical supplies from a hospital, before setting it on fire.
The Boko Haram conflict, which has lasted for decades, has killed at least 36,000 people and displaced two million from their homes, according to the United Nations.
To protect themselves, communities in northern Nigeria have resorted to armed vigilantes and militia groups that work alongside the army.
In December, the group claimed responsibility for the abduction of more than 300 schoolboys in Katsina state, although the Nigerian authorities said it was local gangs connected to the Islamist group.
Last month, Boko Haram fighters also said that they killed dozens of farm workers.