Up to 36 people are reported to have been killed in a Boko Haram attack on a market in North-Eastern Nigeria.
The attack by the Islamist militant group on Friday, sparked gun battles with Nigerian security forces that lasted throughout the night. A security source told Reuters,
“Thirteen of the terrorists who came to attack civilians in Mainok market yesterday were killed, some of them fled with gunshots and our colleagues are already on their trail. Unfortunately, 23 civilians died in the attack.”
The attack comes amid reports that 4 civilians in Cameroon were killed in a cross-border raid by Boko Haram militants. Cameroon's army fired back at the militants, in the latest of several incursions made by Boko Haram across the border. More than 40,000 people have fled to Cameroon from Nigeria, according to the UNHCR.
Boko Haram has captured several towns across Nigeria's North-East in recent weeks, with over 320 km of territory under the group's control.
Meanwhile the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is involved in negotiations to secure the release of schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram, in exchange for a list of 16 senior militants who have been arrested by the Nigerian government, reported the Telegraph. See more here
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