‘Islamists’ slaughter 15 people in their sleep

Yobe – The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe on Sunday said four insurgents had been killed and 59 suspects arrested in an operation in Yindiski area of Potiskum Local Government.

A statement by Lt. Eli Lazarus, JTF spokesman, stated that one policeman died and a soldier, who sustained injury, was receiving treatment.

The statement said “four AK 47 rifles, one double barrel gun, 16 magazines and 380 rounds of ammunitions were recovered”. It said other items recovered in the operation included two gas cylinders and materials used for improvised explosive devices.

The statement urged the public to provide the task force with useful information on suspicious movements and persons in their locality.

Also suspected Islamist extremists have killed 15 People by slitting their throats in an attack on a village in volatile northeast, residents and a relief source said Sunday.

The gruesome violence was the latest to be blamed on Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, though this Christmas season has been notably less bloody than in 2011, when attacks on churches and other locations left scores dead.

...“From the information we gathered, the attackers broke into selected homes and slaughtered 15 people in their sleep,” the relief official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.

...While Boko Haram’s victims have often included Muslims, the group has also specifically targeted Christians, including bombings of churches. There have previously been instances of victims having their throats slit in attacks.

President Goodluck Jonathan has accused the group of seeking to ignite a religious crisis in the nation of some 160 million people.