Boko Haram suspected after 11 killed in Adamawa

Suspected Boko Haram fighters killed 11 people during attacks on three villages in the northeast Nigerian state of Adamawa, a lawmaker and local official said on Friday.

The attacks on Wednesday evening in Bitiku and Kubu left four dead, while seven were killed early on Thursday morning in Kirchinga.

The three villages are in the north of Adamawa state, near the town of Madagali and the border with Borno state, which has been worst hit by the Islamist insurgency.

Just over the state border is the Sambisa Forest, which has long been a Boko Haram stronghold.

Adamu Kamale, who represents the Madagali and Michika areas in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, blamed the attacks on Boko Haram remnants and said people needed more protection.

“We need more security personnel, as our villages share borders with Sambisa Forest,” he said.

“The insurgents attacked a group of traders returning from Gulak market and killed four of them before proceeding to Kirchinga where they slaughtered seven persons, including three women.”

The military said earlier this year it had cleared Adamawa of Boko Haram, which last year captured towns as far south as Mubi, nearly 200 kilometres (125 miles) by road from the state capital, Yola.

AFP visited Michika in May, where locals who had returned complained about a lack of functioning administration and supplies, including food.

Maina Ularamu, a former local government administrator in Madagali, said little had improved since then.

“Our people are suffering from lack of basic needs and services,” he said.

“There is no existence of government, no health care services, no schools. Our bridges have not been fixed ‎so movement of people and goods is difficult in this rainy season.”