90 dead bodies recovered in northeast Nigeria after attacks: official

A total of90 corpses have been recovered and buried in Nigeria northeast town of Bama a day after deadly attack by Boko Haram, local official told Xinhua on Thursday.

Chairman of Bama Local government Baba Shehu Gulumba, who escaped the insurgents attack, said about 90 people were killed, when the attackers invaded the town of Bama, headquarters of Bama local government Area around 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

Also the chairman of Youth Volunteers in Bama Akura Satomi said his men evacuated 96 corpses from various scenes of the attack, adding that the corpses were released to the family for burial.

The traditional ruler of Bama town, Kyari Ibn Ibrahim told Xinhua that 34 people were buried shortly after the attack, but said many families may have buried their dead without reporting to authority.

The Shehu's palace was attacked but he escaped unhurt while part of the palace and over 15 vehicles were brunt.

A Xinhua reporter who visited the scene said many patients with gun shot wound were seen on the bed and floor at the town General Hospital.

Chief Nursing Officer in charge, Emit Mohammed Shuwa said the hospital received 48 victims with gunshot wounds but regretted that 17 of them died.

"We have just removed 9 bullets from some patients now. 16 of the patients were referred to Maiduguri; seven to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and state specialists hospital," Shuwa added.

Locals said more corpses are being discovered, a development which could push forward the dead toll.

The insurgents razed down the central motor park, residential houses, shops and other commercial centers. Chairman of the National Road Transport Workers in area Moroye Modu said a total of 116 vehicles were burnt.

On Sunday, more than 100 people were killed in an attack by gunmen at the village of Izghe in Borno state, where attacks by Boko Haram have become more frequent.

Zanna Shettima, former Chairman of the Nigeria Labor Congress in the state, condemned the attack as barbaric.

State governor Kashim Shettima said Nigerians should see the Boko Haram sect as a common enemy rather than a religious group, urging the federal government to explore new security avenues to tackle their attacks.

The Boko Haram group, based in Borno, killed thousands of locals and foreigners in its insurgency of four and half years.