Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have killed at least 17 people in attacks on Guzamala-Abbari village in Guzamala Local Government Area (LGA) and parts of neighbouring Nganzai LGA of Borno State.
The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, who represents the affected constituency, confirmed the incident and expressed sympathy with the families of the victims.
Lawan said 12 bodies were recovered from Guzamala-Abbari village and given a mass burial in Monguno in accordance with Islamic rites, while five other bodies recovered from a nearby settlement in Nganzai LGA were buried in Gajiram town.
“I am shocked over the massacre of an unspecified number of my people in Guzamala-Abbari and some parts of Nganzai LGA by the terrorists,” the Speaker said.
“So far, 12 dead bodies of Guzamala indigenes were recovered in Guzamala-Abbari village, while five other bodies of Nganzai indigenes were recovered in a nearby village in Nganzai Local Government Area during search and rescue operations on Sunday.
“I commiserate with the families of the victims and wish the injured quick recovery. May Allah (God) grant Aljannatul Firdaus to the souls of the deceased and restore peace in our fatherland.
“As I speak, the search and rescue mission is ongoing as many people are still missing,” he added.
Gudumbali, the headquarters of Guzamala LGA, has remained deserted for several years and is reportedly under the control of Boko Haram insurgents.
The Speaker has repeatedly called on the Federal Government and the military to liberate the area and restore civil authority in Guzamala, particularly at the council headquarters.
The village where the attack occurred is located about 15 kilometres from the recently resettled Mairari village in Guzamala LGA.
