27,000 killed in northeast Nigeria attacks since 2009, says UN

Officials load the body of a victim to the general hospital mortuary on a street of the Jiddari Polo neighbourhood of the northeastern Nigeria city of Maiduguri, on Februray 16, 2019 where Boko Haram fighters shot residents while two suicide bombers blew themselves up, killing eight people. - The attack came hours before Nigeria's electoral commission announced it was postponing today's presidential and legislative vote for a week. The killings came after the group overran a military base north of Maiduguri few days before, stealing an armoured vehicle and torching buildings in an attack that left "several soldiers" missing. (Photo by Audu MARTE / AFP)

More than 27,000 people have been killed in attacks in northeastern Nigeria since 2009, the United Nations said.

“The humanitarian crisis in northeast Nigeria is one of the most severe in the world and is first and foremost a protection crisis,” Edward Kallon, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, said in emailed statement.

“Women, men and children face grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law every day.”

The UN condemned Sunday bombings by suspected Boko Haram insurgents that killed at least 30 people in attacks in Konduga town in northeast Borno state.

Among those killed was a community volunteer who was contributing to the humanitarian response in the region, according to the UN. It called on Nigerian authorities to prosecute those responsible for the attacks and ensure justice is done.

Boko Haram has been waging a violent campaign in Nigeria to impose its version of Islamic law. The country is Africa’s top oil producer and most populous nation, with more than 180 million people.

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