People have started trooping out Magumeri, a town 45 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, following rumours that Boko Haram terrorists will soon attack it. Nearly three-quarters of the population have fled the town, according to a BBC report.

A resident of the town told the BBC that rumours of an impending attack by Boko Haram were spread yesterday evening.

The Hausa service of the BBC also reports that most of the residents still in the city have not fled because they lack the means to do so.

The people’s flight is understandable in view of the failure of Nigerian security forces to protect other communities in the state when threatened by Boko Haram. At the dawn of yesterday, the news had broken that 11 people were killed in a late night attack in Jakana village, Kaga Local Government Area of the troubled state.

Eye witness accounts say the attack which started Monday night lasted up till 3:00am on Tuesday.

The gunmen are reported to have attacked the village with AK47 rifles, Rocket Propelled Launchers, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol bombs.

This attack in Jakana came about 24 hours after at least 31 people were killed by the Boko Haram sect in Mafa Village, also in Borno State.

•Photo courtesy Daily Trust shows some fleeing Borno residents.