Boko Haram kills 5 loggers

KANO, Nigeria: Boko Haram militants killed at least five loggers in north east Nigeria, in the latest attacks against civilians in the violence-hit region, local civilian militia told AFP on Thursday.

The attack happened on Tuesday in Ajeri village, near the town of Dikwa, some 90 kilometres east of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, said Ibrahim Liman, from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).

"They came across nine Boko Haram gunmen in twos on three motorcycles who opened fire, killing five of the loggers," Liman said. Four others were injured in the attack. Soldiers were attracted by the sound of gunfire but the attackers fled before troops arrived on the scene, a second CJTF leader, Babakura Kolo, added. "The soldiers evacuated the five dead and the injured back to Dikwa along with 18 others who survived the attack," he said.