AFRICA/NIGERIA - The Bishop of Maiduguri: "The assault and the massacre in the village of Dalori is a challenge to the army"

Monday, 1 February 2016 armed groups  

Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "It is a challenge to the army of Nigeria", says to Agenzia Fides, His Exc. Mgr. Oliver Dashe Doeme, Bishop of Maiduguri, capital of Borno State, in northern Nigeria, near which lies the village of Dalori, attacked on January 30 by Boko Haram,
"The village is just four kilometers from Maiduguri, where the headquarters of the operations against Boko Haram is situated. The Islamist sect wanted to demonstrate that, in spite of the blows inflicted by our military, it is still able to operate near Maidugiuri", said Mgr. Doeme.
"There were no security forces in Danori at the time of the assault, carried out with extreme brutality. The men of Boko Haram killed a large number of people (at least 86 according to official sources, ed.). They burned most of the houses while two suicide bombers blew themselves up in two places in the village", says the Bishop.
"The attack lasted four hours, despite the village being only four kilometers from the headquarters of the anti Boko Haram forces" says Mgr. Doeme, adding: "I think that Boko Haram takes advantage of the lack of coordination among the forces that should fight it. In addition, our army is struggling to get into the Sambisa forest, where the main bases of the Islamist sect are. Until these basis are conquered, members of Boko Haram can attack as they wish various parts of northern Nigeria".
"The problem is that our troops are not well-equipped for this task. I have collected the complaints of soldiers, who do not have weapons to effectively fight against Boko Haram. Greater efforts are therefore needed by all", the Bishop concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 1/2/2016)





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