Amnesty International claimed yesterday that no fewer than 60 people were killed in the January 28, 2019 attack on Rann, Borno State, by Boko Haram.
“We have now confirmed that this week’s attack on Rann was the deadliest yet by Boko Haram, killing at least 60 people,” Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria said in a statement.
He added: “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.
“This attack on civilians who have already been displaced by the bloody conflict may amount to possible war crime, and those responsible must be brought to justice.”
He said: “witnesses told us that Nigerian soldiers abandoned their posts the day before the attack, demonstrating the authorities’ utter failure to protect civilians.”
The terrorists allegedly stormed the town on motorcycles on the fateful day setting houses ablaze and killing those left behind.
Eleven bodies were found within Rann town, and 49 bodies were found outside.
The human rights group quoted an eyewitness as saying: “Ten of us (Civilian Joint Task Force) came from Cameroon to Rann for the burial.
When we arrived, we found and buried 11 corpses within the town, but the soldiers told us that they buried several others yesterday (30 January) who had decayed. Outside the town, we recovered and buried 49 dead bodies all with gunshot wounds.”
Attempts to get the army for comments on the Amnesty International’s account yesterday did not succeed