UTME candidates, others killed in armed attack in Borno communities

About 210 people, including scores of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates, were killed by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State on Thursday.

A member of the Nigerian Senate from Borno Central, Zannah Ahmed, made the revelation during the plenary of the upper chambers of the National Assembly on Friday.

According to him, the attack took place in four communities-Dikwa, Kala Balge, Gambula and Gwoza-of the state.

The senator accused the military of complicity in the attack, arguing that rather than the usual Hausa or Kanuri language, the attackers were communicating in English language.

Besides, he also alleged that they were dressed in military uniforms while carrying out the attacks.

The affected students, who were said to be in eight vehicles, were traveling from Maiduguri to Biu to write their UTME test when they were ambushed and killed by the armed men.

Ahmed stated further that authorities of the military post in Gamboru refused to respond to distress call sent by the people of Kala Balge when the attack was going on, alleging that the security personnel claimed that the area was not under their command.

“It is a must for me to speak since the people lives are involved and they are my people. All these are happening in my constituency and it will be wrong to keep quiet. I feel so much pained and would not have spoken but definitely my conscience will not let me do that,” he said.

He alleged that 210 people were slaughtered by marauders, who dressed in military uniforms and attacked the towns in two armored personnel cars and seven double cabin pickups.

They armed men, according to the lawmaker, attacked a Teachers College in Dikwa where they reportedly killed seven people, burnt down the school library and administrative block.

He said Kala Balge was the most devastated as 60 people were killed by the armed men who went on the rampage.

He said after they left Kala Balge they attacked three other towns in the area where a total of 150 persons were killed.