Gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect has killed five people in an attack on market in Miringa, a village in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack which occurred around 2pm on Sunday also left several people injured.
A ward councillor in Biu town of the local government, who chose to remain anonymous confirmed the incident. According to him, the gunmen came in two Hilux vans carrying flags with Islamic inscriptions.
The councillor said the gunmen started shooting sporadically as they stormed the market, saying five people have been confirmed dead, while others were taken to the General Hospital in Biu.
Many of the villagers fled to the mountain area for safety, while others ran into the bush to seek refuge, and some ran to Biu, the local government capital, Nigerian Tribune reports, citing another resident of Miringa, Abdu Usman.
Usman however confirmed that normalcy is gradually returning to the area, with some people already finding their way back to town, as security operatives have been detailed to the area.
He expressed worry at the development, especially coming at a time when the government announced it has agreed a ceasefire with the Islamist sect.
“…this is worrisome,” said Usman. “How can something like this be happening when the Federal Government had told Nigerians they were dialoguing with the Boko Haram sect?” he queried.
Truce talks between the federal government and the sect will continue on Monday (today), according to the self-acclaimed Secretary General of Boko Haram, Mallam Danladi Ahmadu, who has been representing the sect in talks with the FG. It holds in Ndjamena, Chad and will be supervised by the Chadian leader, Idriss Derby.
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