15 Killed in Terrorist Attack in Nigeria

At least 15 villagers lost their lives in an attack carried out by armed terrorists on two villages in the Borno state of northeastern Nigeria.

The assailants, riding motorcycles and trucks equipped with machine guns, arrived in the villages of Gatimaru and Tsiha, near the city of Chibok, on New Year's Day, opening fire on the residents, according to local sources.

Manasseh Allen, the head of the Chibok Community Development Association, confirmed that the death toll in the two villages had reached 15 individuals.

Additionally, Samson Paul, a resident of the area, revealed that the terrorists also abducted a young woman from the village of Tsiha.

While Nahum Dasu, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police, confirmed the attack, no further details or casualty figures were provided.

According to Allen, the terrorists, dressed in military attire, stormed Gatimaru at approximately 16:00 GMT and began shooting at its inhabitants, including individuals returning from a funeral.

He added that they killed 12 people in Gatimaru and three others in Tsiha, a tally corroborated by two other local residents.

Ayuba Alamsun, a local community leader in Chibok, revealed that in addition to the killings, the terrorists looted food supplies and set fire to homes in the two villages.

The specific terrorist group responsible for these attacks has not been immediately identified. 

However, the region is known for the activities of both Boko Haram and its rival, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), which splintered from Boko Haram and pledged allegiance to ISIS.