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Fundamentalists went on the rampage at the weekend, killing scores of residents of Fota, Gombi Local Government, Adamawa State, in Nigeria’s troubled North-East. Aside killing seven policemen, they also torched churches, a police station and a court. It is believed that members of Boko Haram, fleeing from Sambisa Forest, Borno State, due to the consistent shelling of their base by security agents, were responsible for the attacks.

The fleeing insurgents also attacked a wedding in Bisir, shooting into the crowd. The Fota attack happened at dawn. A resident simply known as Musa said the fundamentalists, on sighting the police station, opened fire, killing the seven policemen on duty. In the premises of the church razed, the pastor’s house was also torched.

He said: “It was in the night while we were busy in a wedding ceremony, at about 10-11pm, the gunmen, suspected to be members of Boko Haram, struck. They first attacked the area police station, killing seven police officers instantly, including mobile policemen, deployed.

“They later set ablaze the court and three big churches. Not only that, they looted and burnt down a church food store. The gunmen drove in dozens on bikes and other vehicles, chanting Allahu Akbar, many times before fleeing.

“Those gathered at the wedding all scampered for safety. Despite the fact that they opened fire, no one was killed at the gathering.”

It was learnt that some of the policemen killed had earlier engaged the fundamentalists in a gun duel.

The Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muhammed Ibrahim, confirmed the attack. Similarly, the Army Public Relations Officer of the 23rd Armoured Brigade, Captain Jafaru Nuhu, confirmed the incident.

•Excerpted from New Telegraph. Photo shows Boko Haram fighters.

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