13 slaughtered as Boko Haram and villagers clash in Gwoza

At least 13 people have died in a fresh clash between suspected men of dreaded terror group, Boko Haram and residents of Gwoza, Borno. The death toll according to Leadership, comprises of nine Christians and four suspected Boko Haram gunmen who were reportedly killed in a village in Gwoza local government area of Borno State as the gunmen and local residents engaged in a life-or-death battle, eyewitnesses and security officials said. The Christians were killed during a service in Antagara village, near Gwoza town. The attack came barely 24 hours after the burial of the Emir of Gwoza, Idrisa Timta, who was assassinated by the Boko Haram gunmen on Friday. During the burial, three suspected Boko Haram members were nabbed by the local youth vigilante when the gunmen armed with RPG and AK 47 were planning attack on the town at the time the state governor Kashim Shettima and other top dignitaries were busy attending the burial of the assassinated monarch. The Sunday attack on the Christians appeared to be a reprisal attack by Boko Haram gunmen angered by the arrest of their members on Saturday. Witnesses said some armed men stormed a church at Attangara village in Gwoza LGA and opened fire on worshippers while the Sunday service was going on at about 9:30am. In anger over the attack on the hapless worshippers, the members of community mobilized and went after the gunmen. “The attack occurred at EYN Church (Church of Brethren, Nigeria) while the service was going on,” said a fleeing resident called Miss Martha. “Our church has some men as security group. They usually keep vigilance on the church especially when service is going on. As we were holding service, we started hearing gunshots and everybody fled, some through the windows and ran into a bush. Some whose houses are near the church also ran to their houses. Men in the community immediately mobilised and pursued the Boko Haram men. They were more than 10; they came with motorcycles and a car. Our vigilante killed four of the Boko Haram and arrested three. I later discovered nine of our men in the church security group were shot dead. I left Attangara yesterday afternoon, slept at Gwoza to get to Maiduguri today.” A top security person who pleaded anonymity confirmed the incident, even as the state police command has not issued any statement in respect of the attack.