Over 250 people have been killed by Boko Haram in the Borno state in Nigeria in the past two weeks, prompting increased fears of security amid rising tensions in the region.
It’s the highest number of deaths in such a short period in Nigeria since a pipeline exploded in Adeje in 2000, killing over 250 people.
While 250 people have been confirmed dead, some residents believe the death toll is higher.
“Some of the attacks may not have been reported if they occurred in very remote locations, or did not carry a very significant number of casualties”, said Lawan Musa, an official of the Civilian-JTF in Kawuri village, told the Premium Times.
Some of the deaths happened early Friday morning when a bus on its way to Gwoza exploded. The bomb was believed to have been planted on the highway by Boko Haram terrorists. Seven died and three are still in the hospital from the attack.
The massacre began on January 14 when a bomb killed 43 in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Most of the attacks have been taking place in “on remote isolated towns and villages where it would have been difficult to reach in times of attacks as they are far away from most of the military posts,” an anonymous Nigerian Army officer told the Times.
Boko Harem is an Islamic sect that regularly commits jihad, or terrorist attacks, across Nigeria, Cameroon, and Niger. It was founded in 2001 and aims for a “pure” Islamic state ruled by sharia law, or law based on more ancient interpretations of the Koran.
