Terror attack kill dozens in northeast Nigeria

Terrorists linked to the ISIL killed dozens of people in the latest of a flurry of bloody attacks in northeast Nigeria, local sources said on June 14.

Inhabitants of remote Goni Usmanti village told AFP that terrorists gunned down 38 people in a raid on June 13 and set a truck ablaze, killing an unknown number of passengers.

Security sources and residents said at least 15 people, including nine soldiers, died hours later in a second attack by the terrorists on the town of Monguno, 60 kilometres (40 miles) away.

The killings are the latest in a spike of assaults by fighters believed to be from the ISIL West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction after they massacred 81 people at a village in the area on jUNE 9.

Terrorists in pickup trucks on June 14 shot dead fleeing residents in Goni Usmanti after brief clashes with members of a local government-backed militia, sources said.

"The insurgents killed 38 people, including six vigilantes who put up a fight before they were overpowered," local self-defence group leader Babakura Kolo said.

Resident Grema Nuwaisu gave the same toll and said the fighters had also opened fire on a lorry loaded with traders, burning the vehicle and those inside.

"We don't know how many people were on the lorry which was full," Nuwaisu said.

"It was completely burnt, making it difficult to identify bodies. Only two passengers jumped off the truck and escaped."
The same group of terrorists was then believed to have carried out an attack on the strategic garrison town of Monguno several hours later.

Security sources and residents on June 14 raised the death toll from that assault from six to 15 as more bodies were discovered.

"The number of those killed is now 15, including...