Local residents in the town of Konduga in Northeastern Borno state of Nigeria have told reporters that Boko Haram militants have killed 51 people in an attack on the town.
The attack was said to have happened on Tuesday dawn but communications to the north of the country have been disrupted as a result of Boko Haram attacks on transmission equipments of mobile operators companies, making reporters unaware until late Wednesday.
Boko Haram has pulled down several telecom masts in the north of the country, accusing them of providing assistance to the security forces in tracking them.
Bono State is among the three states where President Goodluck Jonathan’s troops are struggling to contain Boko Haram insurgency attacks.
Witnesses told reporters that dozens of Boko Haram fighters arrived in the town in trucks which was painted with military colors and were armed with automatic weapons and explosive devices. They started burning houses and shooting fleeing villagers who were running for their lives.
Residents said a mosque and more than 1,000 homes were razed to the ground by the militants rendering some residents homeless.
An anonymous teacher who wanted to protect his identity told the Reuters African Service that the militants also took some 20 young girls hostage from a local college for several hours before later freeing them.
Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima said when he visited the town on Wednesday; it was a disaster for the community and called for justice against the militants.
“It is barbaric and unfortunate, about 60 to 70 percent of the town has been burnt down but we are willing to rebuild it’’, Governor Shettima said.
He however pledged to spend 100 million naira ($609,000) on emergency materials to help those who have lost their houses.
Nigeria Crisis:President Jonathan Sacks 4 Cabinet Ministers
This unfortunate killing of civilians in Borno State comes as President Jonathan sacks 4 of his cabinet ministers on Wednesday.
Controversial Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah was shown the exit by the president after she was caught in a web of certificate scandals and a scandalous purchase of two BMW armored cars for $1.6 million.
Others fired by the President include the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe; Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade and the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Yerima Lawan Ngama.
President Goodluck Jonathan is struggling to hold on to his fragile cabinet since some significant number of Members of Parliament in the ruling government PDP party defected to join the opposition.
The President has also come under intense criticisms by former President, Olesegun Obasanjo for failing to run the country effectively.
In September last year, President Jonathan sacked nine ministers of his cabinet and last month, also dismissed his army chiefs including head of the army, navy and air force after a court ruled that their appointments were illegal.
Political analysts say the president is struggling to hold his government together and is likely to be defeated in the general election due to be held next year.
Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News
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