New Attacks in Northern Nigeria Leave Over 100 Dead

Photo by Ayodeji Alabi on Unsplash

June has been a dangerous month for many Nigerian citizens in the northeast of the nation, although it can be argued that no month goes by without terrorist attacks that leave dozens dead and many more severely injured. This time, on Tuesday, June 9, suspected Boko Haram militants attacked the village of Foduma Kolomaiya, Borno State, savagely killing 81 Nigerian citizens, and leaving countless others missing and displaced. Following the onslaught of violence, the attackers set the entire village community on fire before exiting the scene. One survivor, Rabiu Isa, states:

“They came on motorcycles and vehicles and killed people at will in an attack that lasted more than two hours…In all we counted 69 corpses but the death toll mar be higher because some people are still missing.”

And Isa’s estimation is correct- the number of deceased has only increased since the initial death numbers. The village, Foduma Kolomaiya, is located in the Gubio region of Borno state, an area where there has been much Boko Haram antagonism and hostility. In fact, this incident is believed to be a revenge attack following a situation two months prior in which two Boko Haram members were killed during an attempted attack in Gubio.

Not long after the fatal attacks on Foduma Kolomaiya village, on Saturday, June 13, two attacks occurred in Monguno and Nganzai areas, in which the militant attackers were armed with sophisticated weaponry such as rocked launchers and were able to impose casualties and horrific injuries. In addition to the deaths of 20 soldiers and 40 ordinary citizens, the local United Nations office and a police station were set ablaze. The Islamic State West Africa Province, a faction of Islamist militant group Boko Haram, has taken credit for the attacks in Monguno and Nganzai, as well as the attack in Foduma Kolomaiya just days prior.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has released a statement publicly condemning the attacks, which can be accessed here.