JUST IN: Terrorists invade community, kill cleric, 13 others; set houses, cars, church ablaze in Yobe

The Islamic State-backed Boko Haram group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), formerly known as Jam’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihd, has assaulted Kwari, a town in Yobe State’s Geidam Local Government Area.

Geidam is the council area of Usman Baba Alkali, the immediate past Inspector General of Police.

It is 177 kilometers from Damaturu, the state capital, and roughly 40 kilometers from the Nigeria/Niger Republic border.

During the incident, the attackers assassinated the pastor of the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN), Luka Levong, according to SaharaReporters.

According to an eyewitness, the terrorists also killed thirteen other people, including the church treasurer, Maina Abdullahi.

According to the source, the gunmen set fire to the church, as well as other houses and cars.

Another homeowner informed SaharaReporters that the attack, which occurred at 1 a.m. on Friday, was not repulsed.

“14 people were killed in Geidam this morning, many houses and the church were burnt,” he said.

Other residents who had retired to their homes were forced to flee into the bushes as the gunmen stormed the village, shooting sporadically.

“The victims were taken to the Specialist Hospital, Geidam,” the source added.

Yobe, a state in Nigeria’s Northeastern region has experienced a series of brutal attacks that have resulted in the devastating death of thousands of people.

Since the death of JAS leader, Abubakar Shekau, ISWAP has been consolidating its grip in locations around Lake Chad.