At least 55 dead in jihadist attack in Nigeria

Jihadists killed at least 55 people in northeastern Nigeria in an attack on Friday evening, sources close to the security forces and an NGO told AFP today.

The attack took place in the town of Darul Jama, which houses a military base on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Sources close to the security forces said five soldiers were among the dead.

Although jihadist violence in Nigeria has declined since the worst of the conflict with the Boko Haram group (2013-2015), insurgents, particularly from the breakaway Islamic State group in West Africa, continue to carry out attacks in rural areas of the northeast.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles, fired automatic rifles and set houses on fire.

According to sources close to a local NGO, it is possible that more than 55 people were killed, at least 60.