At least 11 civilians were killed Friday evening in a town in northeastern Nigeria, invaded by jihadists linked to the Islamic State (IS) who were still there on Saturday, a local authority told AFP and residents. Fighters from the Islamic State Group in West Africa (Iswap), arrived in 8 vehicles topped with automatic weapons, invaded the town of Geidam, in Yobe State, shortly before the breaking of the Ramadan fast.
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«We lost 11 people in the terrorist invasion and the gunmen are still in the cityLocal official Ali Kolo Kachalla told AFP on Saturday. Two residents interviewed by phone by AFP say that the eleven civilians were killed in the bombing of two houses by a Nigerian army fighter plane deployed to counter the jihadists. It was not yet possible to verify this information. Contacted by AFP, the Nigerian army had not reacted this Saturday afternoon.
According to residents, insurgents destroyed most of the telecommunication towers in the city. They also looted stores before setting them on fire. As of Saturday, the jihadists were still in the city and were joined by reinforcements, residents said. “They are still in the city, they are camping under trees, and some of them are sleeping”Said Babagana Kyari.
36,000 dead since 2009
Nigerian soldiers blocked the road outside the town, preventing panicked residents from leaving, causing some to head deep into the bush while others took boats to the other side of the city. the river, residents said. “Our fellow citizens want to leave the city but the soldiers prevent them without driving out the insurgents, leaving them in danger», A déclaré Ali Kolo Kachalla.
Since the rebellion of the radical Islamist group Boko Haram began in 2009 in northeast Nigeria, the conflict has left nearly 36,000 dead and two million displaced. In 2016, the group split, with on one side the historical faction and on the other Iswap, recognized by the organization Islamic State (IS).
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