LAGOS
Scores of people were reportedly killed in an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants in Nigeria's northeastern Kukawa town late Tuesday, locals have said.
"I cannot say precisely for now how many people died but they are in their dozens," Modu Musa, chairman of Kukawa local government of northeastern Borno State, told reporters.
"Many houses and vehicles were also burnt by gunmen we suspect to be Boko Haram militants," he added.
"We urge the government and the military to strengthen security and do everything in their powers to end cycle of violence," Musa said.
Usmanu Bako, a resident of Kukawa who has fled the town, said the militants shot sporadically and hurled explosives at homes and offices.
"They burnt the police station at Kukawa police post and several houses. Of course many of our people have been killed," he told journalists in Maiduguri, the capital city of the restive state.
"They came in at least five Hillux buses and powerful munitions especially rocket- propelled grenades. Kukawa had never before witnessed such destruction from the marauders," he said.
The insurgents reportedly torched the health center and offices of an oil company working in the Lake Chad Basin, which has a proven oil deposit.
Tuesday's attack adds to the growing concern about the activities of the insurgents despite government's announcement of a cease-fire with Boko Haram.
Earlier this month, the Nigerian government announced that it had reached a cease-fire with the militant group, brokered by Chad.
The deal reportedly called for the safe return of over 200 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from the northeastern town of Chibok over six months ago in exchange for detained militants.
Several attacks and abductions, however, were reported since the announcement of the cease-fire.
On Monday, Nigeria's Foreign Minister Aminu Wali said that a cease-fire agreement and negotiations with Boko Haram was still "ongoing," and exonerated the militant group of a spate of recent attacks and kidnappings in the country's restive northeast.
www.aa.com.tr/en
