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Over 70 die in attacks on church, village in Nigeria's north-east

Other News Materials 28 January 2014 09:50 (UTC +04:00)
More than 70 people are reported to have died in two attacks by gunmen in Nigeria's north-east
Over 70 die in attacks on church, village in Nigeria's north-east

More than 70 people are reported to have died in two attacks by gunmen in Nigeria's north-east, Nigerian media reported Tuesday.

Witnesses have been describing the attacks on Sunday on a village in Borno state, which killed over 50 people, and a church in Adamawa State where 22 people were shot dead, Nigerian newspapers reported.

More than 50 gunmen entered Kawuri village in Borno state at about 5 pm (1600 GMT), and killed 52 people, The Vanguard daily said. The attackers set fire to over 300 houses and shops, the report said, dpa reported.

In a separate incident, gunmen entered a Catholic church in Waga Chakawa village in Adamawa state during mass on Sunday morning, Nigeria's The Guardian newspaper reported.

The final death toll from the two attacks could be nearly 100, according to broadcaster Al Jazeera, citing officials and witnesses.

Adamawa, Borno and the neighbouring state of Yobe were placed under emergency rule in May last year to try to curb attacks by Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

The group is active in the mainly Muslim north of Nigeria, carrying out attacks aimed mainly at Christians.

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