The military high command in the Nigerian State of Borno has said that gunmen from the militant Boko Haram sect have attacked and killed 44 people who were returning from their dawn prayers in a mosque.

The incident happened in the town of Konduga which is about 35km from the state capital, Maiduguri, and local reporters say some 30 people also sustained serious injuries and are in the State capital receiving medical care.

The attacked were said to have happened on Sunday dawn but news of it emerged yesterday as a results of interruption in communication networks in the northern part of the country.

Eyewitness said the attackers were dressed in military camouflage and arrived in the town on Sunday dawn on motorbikes, shooting at dozens of people returning from the morning Muslim prayers (Salatur Fajir) in the town.

A member representing the Konduga town at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori was quoted by the Daily Post Newspaper as telling reporters that he received the news of the attack of members of his constituency with great shock.

“I was told that many people were killed, I will be going to the hospital to see the victims, I think the governor would be going there either today or tomorrow to see for himself. But whatever it is, many people were killed’’, he said.

The Military killed 32 Boko Haram members last week in Bono State and this attack seems to be a revenge taken by the group against innocent civilians.

President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in 3 northern states on May 14, and deployed thousands of troops to halt the insurgency, acknowledging that militants had taken control of some towns and villages in the north.

The Nigerian Armed Forces have been on offensive to flush Boko Haram out of its northern strongholds with the army saying it has gained massive grounds against Boko Haram.

President Goodluck Jonathan had wanted to grant an amnesty to Boko Haram by setting up a committee to look into the affairs on how a peaceful dialogue can be achieved but the group refused to lay down their arms compelling the President to resort to military action against them.

Boko Haram is believed to have carried out a wave of bombings and assassinations since 2009, saying it wants to establish an Islamic state across Nigeria.

Boko Haram Ready to Attack US

Meanwhile, in a latest video released on Monday to reporters by Boko Haram, group leader, Abubakar Shekau, said in the video that his fighters had carried out several attacks in Borno state in recent weeks where he said the military had fled under their (Boko Haram) heavy gun power, and their next target now is the United States.

“We have killed countless soldiers and we are going to kill more. Our strength and firepower has surpassed that of Nigeria. We can now comfortably confront the United States of America,” he said in the Hausa Dialect.

It is unclear how the US attack will be carried out but the group is known for its guerilla tactics in carrying their activities and the United States need to take extra caution.

The US closed many of its embassies last week across the globe in what it said it has gathered intelligence from its networks of potential attack by al Qaeda.

The US embassy in Nigeria has not officially commented on the threat by Boko Haram but it is believe the US is not taking anything for granted.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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