Insurgents kill 44 inside Borno mosque

Suspected Islamic militants have killed 44
people who were praying in a mosque in
Konduga, about 35 kilometres outside
Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The Associated Press (AP) quoting security
sources, said the bodies were counted
yesterday, although the killing took place on
Sunday morning. The killing it said, was perpetrated by militants.
Along the way from Maiduguri to Konduga,
civilian activists encountered ‘fierce resistance
from heavily armed terrorists’, said Usman
Musa of the civilian vigilance group. Four people from the civilian group were also
killed after responding to calls for help. No one has taken responsibility for the
incident. Police said they have not excluded the
possibility that Islamist organisation Boko
Haram was behind the attack. Boko Haram has been fighting to create an
Islamic state in the North. The group, whose
name means “Western education is a sin,” has
turned on civilians in the area. The group has been targeting Christians
outside churches, as well as teachers,
schoolchildren, and moderate Muslim clerics
who have spoken out against extremism. Government declared a state of emergency in
Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states on May 14, in
a bid to tackle the insurgents.