Boko Haram kills five reopened highway

– About 5 traders have been killed by Boko Haram insurgents in an ambush on a highway

– The first convoy of vehicles carrying immigration officials on the border with Cameroon, to the city of Maiduguri when they came under fire

– Three (immigration) officers were hit and injured in the fire exchange. The immigration men drove off towards Ma

About 5 traders have been killed by Boko Haram insurgents in an ambush on a highway in the northeast that was recently reopened after coming under repeated attack from the Islamist group.

A military source on Wednesday, August 17, said a convoy of vehicles carrying immigration officials and a group of traders were travelling from Gamboru, on the border with Cameroon, to the city of Maiduguri when they came under fire on Monday.

An army officer who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity said: “Three (immigration) officers were hit and injured in the fire exchange. The immigration men drove off towards Maiduguri, leaving the traders behind,”

The five traders had joined the official convoy thinking it would be a safer way to reach the Borno state capital than travelling the notorious road alone.

The traders’ two trucks were looted and set alight, Gamboru resident Umar Ari told AFP by phone, also confirming the toll of five dead.

The Gamboru to Maiduguri highway is a strategic 140-kilometre (87-mile) trade route in the region, and provides an important link with neighbouring Cameroon.

The highway was closed for safety reasons at the height of the Boko Haram unrest some two years ago, but was reopened by the Nigerian authorities following a string of successes against the militants.

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