By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

Not less than 65 persons were killed and several others injured as suspected Boko Haram members went on a killing spree at Dalori, a village less than five kilometres to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

According to residents who survived the attack, the death toll could significantly increase because virtually all the houses in the densely populated village were set on fire, along with livestock.

The attack, villagers said, started around 7:00 pm on Saturday when the insurgents, dressed in military uniforms, invaded the village in Hilux and motorcycles and opened fire on innocent people, including children.

“We were helpless as no one came to our aid when the insurgents struck on Saturday night. I am still in mourning as I lost 11 persons in the siege, at present I am still looking for five of my children who went missing during the attack,” Abba Dalori, a survivor, told journalists.

A rescue worker told our reporter that 50 corpses were deposited at the Borno State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri while 15 were taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH.

Dalori houses the biggest camp for internally displaced persons, IDPs, where more than 15, 000 fleeing the insurgency from Bama axis find shelter.

Curiously, however, there are military checkpoints from Maiduguri to the camp while another military post is stationed at the camp. This means soldiers would have heard as the attack went on, especially with residents saying it lasted for hours.

According to a soldier who spoke to our reporter on phone, there was no way soldiers at the IDP camp would not hear the sound of gunshots from the attack but they might not have been given the order to go there.

“You know some of us are scared, especially with the attack being in the night, because you don’t know what you might find there. Again, if they were not given order to go there, you would not expect them to on their own leave their duty post,” the soldier, who did not want to be mentioned, said.

In a statement issued by spokesperson for the counterinsurgency war, Mustapha Anka, a Colonel, the military did not give details about casualties but said that suicide bombers were used by the insurgents.

“In their desperate efforts for reprisal attacks on strong, determined and committed members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and innocent citizen., yesterday (Saturday), 30 January 2016 Boko Haram terrorists (insurgents) launched attack on Dalori through Yale from (rear of Dalori village).

“An eye witnessed said that the insurgent came in two Golf cars, motorcycles, started opening fire and burning houses. Their motive was to cause rancour and penetrate crowd with suicide bombers,” the statement read.

“Similarly, while people were running for their dear lives to Gomari Kerkeri village three female suicide bombers attempted to make their way into the crowd but were intercepted and subsequently got blown up. During the incident lives were lost while some people sustained injuries. The insurgents also attempted to penetrate Dalori IDP camp, but the attempt was resisted by the troop which resulted into detonation of IED by the suicide bombers,” it added.

According to Anka, the commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, the counterinsurgency slogan, Hassan Umaru, a Major General, has sent a condolence message to the District Head of Dalori, Lawal Bashir.