Islamic Extremists Kill 15 Christians in Northeast Nigeria
Area residents said members of Boko Haram first attacked Gartamawa village, Chibok County in Borno state, killing 12 Christians and wounding two others. The rebel militants then went to nearby Tsiha village and killed three Christians and kidnapped another, residents said.
Jennifer Kefas, another resident, said a “young Christian girl” was kidnapped in the attack on Tsiha village.
“This aside, the Boko Haram terrorists broke into stores in the two communities and looted food items and other valuables,” Kefas said in a text message. “Houses, too, were burned by the terrorists.”
Nahum Daso, spokesman for the Borno State Police Command, said in a press statement that the attacks were carried out by Boko Haram, which has been fighting to establish sharia (Islamic law) throughout Nigeria.
“The insurgents bearing deadly weapons attacked Gartamawa and Tsiha villages,” Daso said. “In all, 15 persons were killed and two others were injured.”
Northeastern Nigeria has been under attack from Boko Haram since 2009, including the kidnapping of 276 high school girls from Chibok town in 2014. Military authorities said in October 2022 that 98 of the kidnapped girls remain missing.
Col. Obinna Ezuipke, head of intelligence at the military high command in the northeast, said that 57 of the girls escaped in 2014, and 107 were released in 2018. Three of the girls were recovered in 2019, two in 2021, and nine were rescued in 2022, leaving 98 who remain in captivity, he said.
Boko Haram, formerly led by Abubakar Shekau, aligned with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in 2015. In August 2016, Islamic State leaders replaced Shekau with Abu Musab al-Barnawi as ISWAP’s leader. A Shekau-led faction broke into the separate group, reverting to the name Boko Haram, officially Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad.
