At least 60 people were killed on May 7, 2013 in Borno and Nasarawa States by armed men.

Over 60 people were on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 killed in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno and the central Nasarawa States respectively in an attack by heavily armed Boko Haram militants and ambush by local cult members. 

A total of 47 people were killed in Bama in Borno State in coordinated attacks on military, security and prison facilities by Boko Haram militants, The Guardian newspaper of Nigeria reported. Disclosing the casualty figure in the capital, Abuja, on Wednesday, May 8, 2013, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, said Boko Haram gunmen stormed Bama at about 5.10 pm, dressed in military fatigues.

They then attacked the 202 Army Battalion Barracks with Rocket-propelled Grenades, general purpose machine guns, bombs, an 18-seater bus and six Hilux pick-up vehicles fitted with anti-aircraft guns. Though the assault on the army barracks was repelled, Brigadier General Attahiru explained that Bama Police Station, Police Barracks, Local Government Secretariat, Electoral Office, a Magistrate’s Court and primary school were burnt by the terrorists. About 105 inmates were set free from Bama Prisons while those killed included 21 Boko Haram fighters, six police officers, 14 prison officials, two soldiers and four civilians.

Similarly, 20 policemen were killed in the central State of Nasarawa on May 7, 2013 in an ambush by Ombatse cult members. Nigerian Tribune cited Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura as saying the ambush took place at Alakyo village in Lafia East Development Area, about 10 km from Lafia, the state capital, as the detachment of mobile policemen was going to arrest the cult leader in his shrine.

A spokesman for Nasarawa State Government, Sani Musa Mairiga, told BBC that cult members had been forcing local Eggon people to swear an oath of allegiance to the group. Nasarawa State Police Chief, Abayomi Akeremale, said about 60 police officers came under attack and that 17 were still missing. Nigerian Tribune however gathered that over 98 people were reportedly killed by the outlawed Ombatse group whose members are said to use juju to protect themselves. Some 55 mobile policemen and eight Ombatse members reportedly died in the gun duel.