No fewer than 51 people were left dead in yesterday’s dastardly attack on Chibok and Biu local government areas of Borno State by gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram Islamic sect. Those killed were mostly Christian worshippers. Five churches, among them Cocin, EYN and Deeper Life Bible Church in Kwada village, about 10 kilometres from Chibok, were also burnt down when the gunmen laid ambush on them during church service.

The attacks were carried out on a day the Federal Government said last week’s bomb attack on Abuja was meant to intimidate the government and that it is a struggle for power.

It was in Chibok town that 276 female students of Government Girls Secondary School were abducted by terrorists on April 14 this year. Most of the girls remain captive by the terrorists after a few escaped.

Boko Haram had two weeks ago written to Chibok communities threatening to carry out further attacks.

The attackers, according to report from locals in Chibok, made good their threat at a time the people were all in Church for the Sunday worship. A resident of one of the affected communities, Amos Bulus told Vanguard that, “the attackers killed and burnt houses after attacking worshippers in five churches in Kwada, before moving to Kautikari less than 8 kilometres to Chibok town, killing and burning down people’s houses and property. The security operatives were not on ground to defend us. In fact, those who ran into the bush were pursued and killed by the murderers.”

It was gathered from another source that the people living in Chibok town have fled their homes following the news of the attacks in Kwada and Kautikari.

A police officer, Peter Maina said he was called out from a Church service in Maiduguri, only to be informed that his brother was killed at Kwada when the insurgents attacked the village during church service.

•Based on a Vanguard report. Photo shows some of the schoolgirls abducted from Chibok by Boko Haram on April 14.