Nigeria: Corpses Litter Bushes in Baga As More IDPs Seek Refuge in Maiduguri
Nigeria: Corpses Litter Bushes in Baga As More IDPs Seek Refuge in Maiduguri
allAfrica, 09 Jan 2015
URL: http://allafrica.com/stories/201501090001.html
By Kareem Haruna
Hundreds of unattended corpses - mostly those of children and the aged who could not run when the Boko Haram came calling on the fishing community - littered the bushes around Baga town, as those who are lucky to be alive made their way into Maiduguri, the state capital.
The Boko Haram, it was reported, also dislodged a major military base of the Joint Task Force (JTF), fleeing residents say.
There are wild claims that over 2000 persons may have been killed - a figure that was, however, doubted by the senator representing Borno North senatorial district, Maina Maaji Lawan, in a radio interview on Thursday.
The District head of Baga, Baba Abba Hassan, also denied the claims that over 2000 persons may have been killed, even though he did agree that those killed may well be counted in hundreds.
He said: "There was no new attack on Baga on Wednesday, as we hear it being aired in the news today (Thursday).
"I cannot tell you the actual number of people killed, because many were pursued to the bushes and killed. I can say hundreds, including women and children, have, so far, been killed.
"The terrorists have also destroyed hundreds of houses in Baga, because they were well prepared. They came with dozens of vehicles and first attacked the location of the multi-national Joint Task Force."
Hundreds of unattended corpses - mostly those of children and the aged who could not run when the Boko Haram came calling on the fishing community - littered the bushes around Baga town, as those who are lucky to be alive made their way into Maiduguri, the state capital.
The Boko Haram, it was reported, also dislodged a major military base of the Joint Task Force (JTF), fleeing residents say.
There are wild claims that over 2000 persons may have been killed - a figure that was, however, doubted by the senator representing Borno North senatorial district, Maina Maaji Lawan, in a radio interview on Thursday.
The District head of Baga, Baba Abba Hassan, also denied the claims that over 2000 persons may have been killed, even though he did agree that those killed may well be counted in hundreds.
He said: "There was no new attack on Baga on Wednesday, as we hear it being aired in the news today (Thursday).
"I cannot tell you the actual number of people killed, because many were pursued to the bushes and killed. I can say hundreds, including women and children, have, so far, been killed.
"The terrorists have also destroyed hundreds of houses in Baga, because they were well prepared. They came with dozens of vehicles and first attacked the location of the multi-national Joint Task Force."