60 Dead in Boko Haram Attack in Borno: Amnesty International

At least 60 people were killed when Boko Haram attacked a town in Rain, a border town in Borno state, on January 28, Amnesty International reports Friday.

Boko Haram militants arrived at the small border town of Rann at around 9 a.m. that morning, Amnesty International reports, slaughtering civilians and setting houses ablaze.

“We have now confirmed that this week’s attack on Rann was the deadliest yet by Boko Haram, killing at least 60 people,” said Osai Ojigho, director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

“Using satellite imagery we have also been able to confirm the mass burning of structures as Boko Haram unleashed a massive assault on Rann, most of which is now destroyed.”

In the statement from Amnesty International, Ojigho also lambasted the Nigerian police.

“Disturbingly, witnesses told us that Nigerian soldiers abandoned their posts the day before the attack,” Ojigho said, “demonstrating the authorities’ utter failure to protect civilians.”