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Boko Haram kills 18 people present at funeral in northeast Nigeria

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ANI Washington
Last Updated : Jun 18 2016 | 11:28 AM IST

Boko Haram militants killed 18 mourners, who were present at a funeral in northeast Nigeria.

The mourners included many women and children.

The militants opened fire at a funeral late Thursday night in Madagali area of Adamawa state near the Sambisa forest, which has for long been a stronghold of the Nigeria-based Islamic extremist group, reports the Independent.

"They stormed our village on motorbikes and immediately opened fire on the people observing the wake," said an anonymous witness.

He added that at least 10 injured people were rushed to a health facility in the nearby town of Gulak.

Police spokesman Othman Abubakar confirmed early reports of 18 people being killed and also warned that the toll could rise.

Lawmaker Adamu Kamale, who represents the region in the House of Representatives, said most of the dead were women and children.

Boko Haram pledged support for the Islamic State group last year. The group's nearly seven-year-old insurgency has killed some 20,000 people, forced more than two million from their homes and spread into neighboring countries.

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First Published: Jun 18 2016 | 11:28 AM IST

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