Again, Boko Haram abducts over 185 in Chibok, kills 35

By Doyin Ojosipe with agency report

At least, 35 people have been killed and about 185 kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram members in Gumsere, a village that lies between Damboa and Chibok; survivors have said.

Narrating their ordeal, they explained that the suspected gunmen visited the village in pickup vans on Sunday and opened fire on fleeing residents as they seized their core target; the village security chief and head of a vigilante group.

They said that the village was rounded up as the terrorists came in from two directions, firing some heavy machine guns then poured canisters of gasoline on houses before setting them on fire.

An AFP report also revealed that the village has faced several attack attempts by the insurgents but were repelled by the local vigilante group until last Sunday, when the local security men were subdued and terror unleashed on residents.

The survivors said that, many residents along with the security chief were murdered, while his wife and children, including several residents taken captive, after setting many houses ablaze.

They also revealed that Gumsere is a village without communication network and just about 20 kilometres away from Chibok, where over 200 secondary school girls were abducted some eight months ago.

They added that it was not possible to report the attack early due to lack of necessary social amenities like good road network, while telecommunication towers had been shut down in previous attacks.

Recounting what happened, a survivor who escaped from the area, said he could not be precise with the number of people killed but dead bodies littered everywhere.

He said the militants descended on the community targeting the village security chief who had succeeded in wading off previous Boko Haram attacks on the community.

The residents said the man was killed eventually and all members of his family, including his wife and daughters, taken captive by the Boko Haram members.