MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, July 28 (Xinhua) -- At least 25 people were killed in separate weekend attacks by gunmen in northeast Nigeria's Borno State, military authorities confirmed on Sunday.
In an electronic message to Xinhua, Lt. Haruna Mohammed Sani, spokesperson of the military-led Multi-national Joint Task Force, said the gunmen, believed to be members of the Boko Haram sect, opened fire on civilians and local security workers in Dawashi District of Kukawa local government area of Borno State, which borders Chad.
"A group of local security workers from Maiduguri stormed the Dawashi Village in search of Boko Haram members when the suspected sect members came out fully armed and fired sporadic shots that killed over 20 innocent civilians, while a dozen others secured serious gunshot injuries," he explained.
Five more people were killed in another attack at Mainok, miles away from Maiduguri, the state capital known as stronghold of Boko Haram members, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, spokesperson of the Joint Task Force, told Xinhua in a separate statement.
Most of the victims of the first attack in Dawashi Village were fishermen and traders who plied their business in the riverine community, Haruna said.
According to the military officer, the wounded victims are currently being treated at the headquarters of the Multi-national Joint Task Force in Baga, with the aid of a field ambulance with a humanitarian support mission.
"Heavily armed Quick Reaction Group from the Multi-national Joint Task Force had been deployed to ensure the safety of lives and property in the area. The general area of Dawashi, Daban Masara and Malan Karanti are known to be suspected Boko Haram- infested areas," he added.
Borno State, located in Nigeria's northeast region, is a flashpoint of attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram since 2009, when the sect launched its insurgency targeting churches, security facilities, schools and villages.
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