Suspected hardliners kill 21 in Nigeria

A bloody and terrifying raid by Boko Haram on Friday left at least 25 people dead in three villages in eastern Nigeria’s Adamawa state, according to residents and a local government official.

The attackers rode into the villages on motorcycles Friday morning before gunning people down, reported by residents and Maina Ularamu, chairman of local government in the Madagali district.

The military source who craved anonymity said the attack was carried out late Thursday, in Pompari Village, the homestead of Nigeria’s army chief, Major General Tukur Buratai.

The aide said Buhari had very successful and useful talks with Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and members of Congress during his four-day visit.

But rather than suggest that the United States is at fault for not funding murderers and rapists in the Nigerian military, he should face up to his own responsibility to effectively counter Boko Haram.

President Muhammadu Buhari says his comment on the Leahy law “aiding and abetting” Boko Haram was not meant as an indictment of President Barack Obama. “Those who tried to come back were denounced and arrested by the authorities”, he said.

The United States praises the security forces of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria for their response to these and other recent callous attacks on innocent civilians. “My wish was to clear Konduga of Boko Haram vestige so that people can return home to rebuild their houses”, the army chief added.

But several state governors in the region have said this week that the group continues to occupy the forest.

The Boko Haram insurgency and efforts to quell it have claimed more than 15,000 lives and displaced 1.5 million people since 2009.