Nigeria News: At least 60 people were killed in Borno and Nasarawa States by armed men.

Kimeng Hilton Ndukong with press report

Over 60 people were on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 killed in Nigeria's northeastern Borno and the central Nasarawa States respectively in an attack by heavily armed Boko Haram militants and ambush by local cult menbers.

A total of 47 people were killed in Bama in Boro State in coordinated attacks on military, security and prison facilities by Boko Haram militants, The Guardian newspaper of Nigerial reported. Disclosing the    casualty fifure in the capital, Abuja, on Wednesday , May 8, 2013, the director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, said Boko Haram gunmen stormed Bama at about 5. 10 pm , dressed in military fatigues. They then attacked the 202 Army Battalion Barracks with Rocket-propelled Grenades, general purpose machine guns, bombs, an 18 seater bus and six Hilux pick-up vehicles fitted with anti-aircraft guns. Though the assault o the army barracks. Local Government Secretariat, Electoral Office , a Magistrate's Court and primary school were burnt by the terrorists. About 105 inmates were set free from Bama Prisons while those killed included 21 Boko Haram fighters, six jpolice officers, 14 prison officials, two soldiers and four civilians. 

Similarly, 20 policemen were killed in the central State of Nasarawa on May 7, 2013 in an ambush by Ombatse cult members. Nigerian Tribune cited Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura as saying the ambush took place at alakyo village in Lafia East Development Area, abjout 10 km from Lafia, the state capital, as the detachment of mobile policemen was going to arrest the cult leader in his shrine. 

A spokesmen for Nasarawa State Government, Sani Musa Mairiga, told BBC that cult menbers had beed forcing local Eggon people to swear an oath of allegiance to the group. Nasarawa State Police Chief , Abayomi Akaremale, said about 60 police officers came under attack and that 17 were still missing. Nigeran JTrubune however gathered that jover 98 people were reportedly killed by the outlawed Ombatse group whose members are said to use juju to protect thenselves. Some 55 mobile policemen and eight Ombatse members reportedlu died in the gun duel. 

___________________________________________________________________

Source credit: Cameroon Tribune (10th May 2013)