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AFP
Kano, Nigeria
Hundreds fled late Sunday after Boko Haram burned their homes near Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri, residents said. Boko Haram fighters in several trucks stormed Maiborti village, five kilometres (miles) outside Maiduguri, firing indiscriminately and setting fire to homes, they said. A military officer who did not want to be identified said troops and fighter jets were deployed to the village and scrambled to push out the militants after “fierce battle”. It was not clear if there were casualties in the attack which once again highlighted the fragile security situation in the restive region.
“They (Boko Haram) came around 5:30 pm (1630GMT) and started firing in the village which made us abandon our homes and flee to Maiduguri,” Maiborti resident Abacha Kaka said. Militia leader Babakura Kolo said the militants were later forced out of the village by troops with aerial support.
“Unfortunately, the terrorists succeeded in setting fire to the village and burning it down completely,” he added.
Boko Haram has in recent months launched attacks in a bid to capture Maiduguri, the birthplace of its founder Mohammed Yusuf.
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18/12/2018
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