It was gathered that the assailants stormed the community at about 6pm, opening fire on villagers who had gathered to observe the final funeral rites of a deceased resident.
At least seven residents were brutally killed and several others wounded when suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched a fresh attack on Kopl village in the Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State on Monday evening.
It was gathered that the assailants stormed the community at about 6pm, opening fire on villagers who had gathered to observe the final funeral rites of a deceased resident.
Chairman of Chibok LGA, Hon. Modu Mustaph, confirmed the incident and revealed that the actual death toll may exceed initial reports.
“Many of the victims who sustained injuries were immediately evacuated to Mubi General Hospital in Adamawa State for treatment. We fear the casualty figure could rise as local volunteers continue search and rescue efforts. A mass burial is being planned for Tuesday,” Mustaph said.
Meanwhile, the gruesome assault came just hours after SaharaReporters reported another deadly incident along the Gamboru Ngala-Kala Balge road, where several motorists and passengers were killed after their vehicles ran over improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the terrorists.
Also, dozens were severely injured.
Reacting to the renewed spate of attacks across Southern Borno, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents the region in the National Assembly, decried the deteriorating security situation and called for urgent intervention from the federal government.
“The situation is pathetic and beyond human imagination. Even yesterday, I got a distress call that over ten vigilante members were killed in a community between Hawul and Garkida in Adamawa,” Senator Ndume stated.
“My people are suffering mass casualties without confrontation. In just the past month, over a hundred people have been killed in coordinated attacks across Sabon Gari, Izge, Kirawa, Pulka, Damboa, Chibok, Askira Uba, and many more communities.”
Residents of Kopl and neighbouring villages are now living in fear, with many families fleeing to nearby towns and IDP camps for safety.
The latest attacks highlight the persistent threat Boko Haram continues to pose, even as government forces claim gains in the war against insurgency in the North-East.