Gunmen from the Boko Haram jihadist group killed five people and abducted several others as they collected firewood in restive northeast Nigeria, security sources said Friday. "A group gathered and went outside the town to collect firewood but Boko Haram terrorists attacked them, killing five of them," Kolo said. Many have turned to felling trees from the surrounding bushland to sell as firewood to make money to buy extra provisions. Boko Haram have increasingly targeted loggers, herders, and fishermen in their violent campaign, accusing them of spying and passing information to the military and the local militia fighting them. A rival jihadist faction has split from Boko Haram to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Source: Punch January 24, 2020 14:40 UTC