A report by Daily Trust indicates that Boko Haram insurgents have killed 17 youths in Gurokayeya village, Geidam local government of Yobe state, over failure to pay tax to the terrorist group.
According to the report, the insurgents stormed the village around 10 p.m. on Monday, gathered the residents in one place and executed selective killings.
“They selected 21 youths who were between the ages of 20 and 30 and shot them at close range, while young children and the old were spared.
“Seventeen died instantly, while the remaining four were rushed to the hospital in critical conditions,” a security source told our correspondent.
He said the insurgent took the measure after several warnings to the villagers to pay their taxes, but to no avail.
“After the heinous act, they handed another stern warning to the villagers on the consequences of tax evasion before they left,” he said.
While confirming the incident, Babagana Aisami Geidam, a human rights activist, said 16 corpses had been buried according to Islamic rites.
He said military personnel had been deployed to the affected village.
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When contacted, the Assistant Director Public Relations Officer, Operation Lafiya Dole, Captain Muhammad Shehu, confirmed the incident.
He, however, added that the terrorists also alleged that the villagers were given information to the troops who were flushing them out from their hideout.