By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

Boko Haram insurgents at the weekend reportedly killed not less than 60 persons in Kukuwa – Gari in Gulani local government area of Yobe state.

A member of the local vigilante group, Mohammed Ibrahim, said most of the persons killed drowned in a river as they fled from the rampaging terrorists. Others, he said, were shot dead.

“The terrorists invaded Kukuwa village and its surroundings on Friday on motorcycles and pick-up trucks and started shooting at every possible target. Some of us in the local vigilante group and a few security officials, who accosted them, could not withstand the terrorists’ firepower as they were over 50 and were heavily armed,” Mohammed said.

He said after the mayhem, he counted about 60 bodies, many of them floating in the nearby river.

Also, a resident, who claimed that he narrowly escaped being killed in the attack, said the death toll must have risen beyond 60.

He insisted that more bodies were counted at the river over the weekend after the attack.

“I was able to hide in the bush for two days. When I came out, I saw many bodies at the river. Certainly over 60 persons were killed by the insurgents. Most of us could not communicate with people in Damaturu because telecommunication network had been disrupted by the insurgents,” he said.

Spokesperson for the Yobe State Police command, Toyin Gbadegesin, confirmed the attack, but could not state the numbers of people killed.

“I can confirm that there was an attack at Kukuwa village. The police and other security operatives were able to repel the Boko Haram attackers. We are however not aware of the death toll,” he said.