Boko Haram pursues terrorism in Nigeria

(Reuters/Stringer)Residents watch as two men walk amidst rubble after Boko Haram militants raided the town of Benisheik, west of Borno State capital Maiduguri September 19, 2013.

Boko Haram Islamists have kidnapped 22 girls in two raids in north-east Nigeria.

According to reports, the assailants attacked the village of Pulka near the Cameroon border  on Thursday, where they took 18 girls. They took four others whom they saw fleeing outside the village.

Four soldiers were also killed in an ambush after Boko Haram jihadists torched an army base in Maiduguri in northeast Nigeria. The ambush occurred a day after the jihadists killed seven civilians. The Islamists opened fire at the army convoy going to Gulumba. Military back up arrived, and the assailants were forced to withdraw because of many casualties.

The group of attackers belongs to the faction led by Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, son of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf. Barnawi replaced Abubakar Shekau as the leader of the faction.

In another incident, Boko Haram's Mamman Nur faction attacked another military base in Wajirko Village. The soldiers were outgunned by the assailants, forcing them to flee. The base was robbed of their supplies, and was set on fire. The villagers were not harmed.

Mamman Nur was believed to be responsible for the bombing of a U.N. building in Nigeria's capital Abuja in 2011. He was also alleged to be the real leader of the Islamist group.

On Wednesday, seven people were killed when the group attacked and robbed livestock from a farming community near Maidiguri. They forced two men to lead them to the village. Then, they killed five men who attacked them with bows and arrows.

The two factions promised the civilians that they would not be harmed unless they cooperate with the military. There were previous reports of raids and lootings near Lake Chad. Many civilians were also killed for being suspected of helping the military.

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