One survivor, who sought refuge within the branches of a tree, said that he watched while Islamic militants identifying with Boko Haram firebombed huts, burning to death little children and grown adults alike. According to official figures, at least 86 individuals were killed in the attack carried out by Nigeria’s homegrown Islamic militants.
Scores of charred corpses and bullet-riddled bodies were found littered in the streets from last month’s attack, carried out at the village of Dalori and two nearby refugee camps. The shootings, explosions and burnings from three suicide bombers continued for four long hours in the unguarded area, said survivor Alamin Bakura while weeping on a telephonic interview with the Associated Press. He said several members of his own family were wounded and killed during the attack.
Reportedly, the gruesome violence continued as three female suicide bombers set themselves off in a crowded place. While some people managed to flee to the neighbouring village of Gamori, many others died instantaneously. Military forces arrived at the scene many hours later, roughly around 8:40 pm and even then, they were unsuccessful in crushing the perpetrators, who according to military personnel were really well trained and better equipped. Apparently, the Islamic militants retreated from the scene only after reinforcements arrived with improved munitions.
As journalists flocked to the site the following day, Mohammed Kanar, area coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency, confirmed that 86 bodies had already been collected. He said another 62 were being treated for burns and injuries at State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri.
Since Boko Haram was driven out of villages and towns in northeastern Nigeria last year, the Islamic militants have continued to carry out attacks on soft targets with the help of suicide bombers. The six-year-long Islamic uprising in the African country has witnessed the deaths of at least 20,000 people and driven out over 2.5 million from their homes.
Photo Credits: Al Jazeera
