Officials: 54 Killed in New Attacks in Nigeria

World Today

Nigeria’s chief of defense staff Air Marshal Alex S. Badeh, second from left, and other army chiefs arrive to address the Nigerians Against Terrorism group during a demonstration calling on the government to rescue the kidnapped girls of the government secondary school in Chibok, in Abuja, Nigeria, Monday, May 26, 2014. Scores of protesters chanting “Bring Back Our Girls” marched in the Nigerian capital Monday to protest the abductions of more than 300 schoolgirls by Boko Haram, the government’s failure to rescue them and the killings of scores of teachers by Islamic extremists in recent years. (AP Photo/Gbenga Olamikan)

54 people have been killed in two attacks in northern Nigeria by suspected Islamic extremists, according to Nigerian officials.

Police constable Abdullahi Mohammed said Tuesday that suspected Boko Haram members killed 24 soldiers and 21 policemen in an attack Monday evening on Buni Yadi town in Yobe state.

And in Borno state local government official Nglamuda Ibrahim said gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram killed nine people in two remote villages, also on Monday night.

Ibrahim said that in Ashigashiya town the armed men shot at villagers, burned their homes and held control over the area and hoisted their white flags with Arabic letters.

Report compiled with information from The Associated Press.