Islamists slaughter villagers and Massgoers

Suspected IslamiST extremists used explosives and heavy guns to attack a village and a Catholic church in Nigeria’s north-east, killing at least 97 people and razing hundreds of homes, AP reports.

The attacks in Borno and Adamawa states resulted in one of the highest death tolls in recent attacks by terrorists, who are defying an eight-month-old military state of emergency in three states in northern Nigeria designed to halt an Islamist uprising there.

Attackers set off several explosions in Kawuri village in Borno state after launching their assault near the weekly market as vendors were packing up on Sunday night, a security official said. He said 52 people died and the entire village was burned down.

Also on Sunday, Boko Haram terrorists stormed a Catholic church in Wada Chakawa village, Adamawa state. They fired guns into the church, set off explosives and took people hostage before killing them, residents said. A diocesan official said 45 bodies had been recovered, including those of two policemen.