Kano (Nigeria), Nov 24 (AFP) Gunmen suspected of beingBoko Haram jihadists today shot dead seven men working on afarm in northeast Nigeria's Adamawa state, where at least 50people were killed at a mosque this week, the farm's ownertold AFP.
The gunmen disguised as security personnel attacked themen around 3:00 am (local time) while they were sleeping at afarm in the village of Sabon Gari in the Gombi district. Thevictims were shot at close range with their hands tied behindtheir backs.
"The gunmen killed seven of the eight men who went towork on my farm. Only one escaped," said farmer owner YakubuSarkin-Baka, also head of the local hunters' union.
The victims were all members of the hunters union inGombi, 140 kilometres from the state capital Yola, who went toSarkin-Baka's farm earlier in the day to harvest corn anddecided to stay the night and finish the work the followingmorning, he said.
"They were found with their hands tied behind their backand bullet holes in their heads," Sarkin-Baka said.
"The only survivor told us they mistook the attackers forsecurity men."Sarkin-Baka declined to say who was behind the attack butan uncle of one of the victims put the blame on Boko Haramjihadists.
"It is clearly the work of Boko Haram on a revengemission," Usman Zakari said. "No one would shoot dead sevenpeople in such a cruel manner except Boko Haram."He said Sarkin-Baka and his group of hunters had beeneffectively fighting Boko Haram alongside the Nigerianmilitary which prevented the jihadists from establishing afoothold in the area.
In November 2014 Boko Haram fighters briefly seized Gombibut were repelled by the military with the aid of localhunters from the town.
The Islamists made a failed attempt to retake the towntwo months later but were pushed back by troops and hunterswho launched an extensive manhunt and forced Boko Haram topull out of the area.
On Tuesday at least 50 worshippers were killed when ateenage suicide bomber blew himself up inside a mosque duringmorning prayers in the town of Mubi, 59 kilometres away.
In January last year a suicide attack on a grain marketin Gombi, also blamed on Boko Haram, left eight people dead.
Boko Haram was also suspected in that attack. TheIslamist militants have been waging an insurgency in northernNigeria since 2009 which has left at least 20,000 people deadand more than 2.6 million others homeless. (AFP)CK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.