Benisheik massacre

The Benisheik massacre was a massacre that occurred on 18 September 2013 in Benisheik, Borno State, Nigeria. Some 161 people were killed.[1][2] Boko Haram took responsibility for the attacks.[3]

Benisheik massacre
Part of Islamist insurgency in Nigeria
LocationBenisheik, Borno State, Nigeria
Date18 September 2013
Deaths159

Details

Benisheik, is located between the cities of Damaturu and Maiduguri in Borno State. The attack began on September 18. The rebels arrived in the city through a convoy of over twenty trucks, dressed in stolen Nigerian Army uniforms and carrying anti-aircraft weapons.[4] Allegedly, the attack was launched by Boko Haram in response to self-defense militas that were attempting to protect the city.[4] The rebels entered the city and set fire to numerous buildings and set up roadside checkpoints on the road between Damaturu and Maiduguri. Drivers at these roadblocks were killed if they lived in Borno State, while others were apparently free to go.[4]

Two days later, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attack.[3]

Casualties

The day after the attack, Borno State officials put the death toll at 87, though they were still looking for new bodies.[5]

On September 22, Abdulaziz Kolomi of the state's environmental protection agency, said that an additional 55 bodies had been found, raising the death toll to 142.[5] According to police sources, another 16 bodies were found in Benisheik and another 19 between Maiduguri and Bamboa.[3] The Daily Trust reported that in total 161 people had been killed; 142 travelers, 2 soldiers, 3 police officers and 14 citizens.[6][7][8]

References
  1. Nigerian Islamists kill at least 159 in two attacks | Reuters
  2. BBC News - Nigeria's Boko Haram unrest: Scores dead in Benisheik raid
  3. "Les Boko Haram ont tué 159 personnes au Nigéria". i24 News. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  4. "Nigeria : au moins 87 morts dans une attaque de Boko Haram". Le Monde (in French). 19 September 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  5. "Boko Haram commet un nouveau massacre dans le nord-est du Nigeria". JeuneAfrique (in French). 20 September 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  6. Larcher, Laurent (20 September 2013). "Attaque de Boko Haram dans la capitale du Nigeria". La Croix (in French). Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  7. Idris, Hamza (20 September 2013). "Nigeria: Benisheik Attack Death Toll Now 161". Daily Trust. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  8. "Boko Haram a tué près de 160 personnes dans le nord du Nigeria". Reuters. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2020.

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