At least 14 people, most of them traders, died yesterday when suspected Islamist terrorists detonated a bomb at a market in Mainok, a small community in the Kaga local government area of Borno State. A member of a local vigilante group told SaharaReporters that insurgents belonging to Boko Haram stormed the market and opened fire, targeting traders. “We saw 14 bodies of dead people and many wounded people,” the source disclosed.
Speaking to SaharaReporters by phone, the vigilante member said his group sent a reinforcement of members to combat the attackers. “We sent our people to Mainok after the attack and they saw that at least 14 people were killed,” he said, adding, “We were told that some people were killed in the bush. So we shall continue to work with the military to end this madness.”
The source said he was told the market was in full swing at the time of the gunshots. “Suddenly gunshots were heard from every angle. There was confusion, and people started running for their lives,” he said.
A military source said some soldiers had been deployed to village after the attack to safeguard lives.
Mainok is about 65 kilometers from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. Yesterday’s attack was the second time in less than a year that Islamist militants attacked Mainok.