The death toll in the terrorist attack on Dalori village in Borno State, Nigeria’s North East region has risen to 85.
Sixty-two other people sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Maiduguri the capital of the state.
Most of those affected were fleeing women and children who ran into suicide bombers in a nearby village, an official of the National Emergency Management Agency said.
Earlier on Sunday, the State Emergency Management Agency’s Zonal Coordinator, Mr Mohammed Kanar, told Channels Television that the death toll could rise, as other rescue organisations were involved in providing aid to the victims.
He told Channels Television that the suicide bombers had told those running for safety to join them, claiming that where they were was safe.
When they gathered, they detonated their devices, killing many of them, he said.
No group has claimed responsibility of the attack that has thrown the village into mourning, but the Boko Haram terrorist group is highly suspected to have been involved.
The sect, making attempts to establish an Islamic State and end Western education in the region, has claimed responsibility for similar attacks in the past.
The deaths occurred after terrorists laid siege on Dalori village in Borno State.
Gun Battle
After the attack, the Theatre Commander of Operation of Lafiya Dole, Major General Hassan Umaru, condoled with the District Head, Lawal Bashir and the entire Dalori dwellers over the gun battle between soldiers and suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
General Umaru assured the Dalori people of the Operation Lafiya Dole’s commitment to bringing insurgency to an end soon.
He commended the villagers for their resilience and urged them to be strong and committed to the fight against insurgency.
The Commander also commended the NEMA, SEMA, Red Cross and other Stakeholders for their tireless humanitarian efforts.
Residents of Dalori, a village barely few kilometres to the Borno State capital, were thrown into panic over a gun battle between soldiers and suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
Sounds of heavy gunfire filled the air late on Saturday evening, causing panic among residents of the university area and other residential areas closer to Dalori.
An eye witness said that “the insurgents came in two Golf cars and motorcycles. They opened fire and burnt houses”.
Similarly, while people were scampering for safety, with some running to Gomari Kerkeri village, three female suicide bombers attempted to make their way into the crowd, but were intercepted and subsequently got blown up.
During the incident, lives were lost while some people sustained injuries.
The insurgents also attempted to penetrate Dalori Internally Displaced Persons camp, but the attempt was resisted by the troop, which resulted into detonation of Improvised Explosive Devices by the suicide bombers.