Police officials in Adamawa state have confirmed that 20 people were killed and at least 15 injured when gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect a group of southerners in a town hall meeting.
Speaking to the Associated Press, local police commissioner Ade T. Shinaba said the attack took place on Friday at noon in Mubi, Adamawa, where a group of Igbo traders had gathered for a town hall meeting before the start of business.
“We started hearing many gunshots through the windows,” Okey Raymond, 48, who attended the meeting told the AP. “Everyone scampered for safety, but the gunmen chanted: ‘God is great God is great’ while shooting at us.”
Raymond said he hid under the table and escaped through the back door.
Boko Haram had, earlier this week, issued a warning in an email statement calling on northerners in the south to return and demanding that southerners living in the north evacuate the region.
Friday’s attack comes after the Thursday night killings carried out by suspected Boko Haram members at a church in Gombe state. The gunmen attacked a Deeper Life church in Gombe, killing six people, including the pastor’s wife.
Police say investigations are still ongoing, but says no arrests have been made yet.