Gunmen killed at least 42 people in Nigeria college attack

Gunmen killed at least 42 people on Sunday in an attack on a college in northeast Nigeria, a Reuters witness said, in a region where Islamist militants have targeted schools and universities.

Sunday’s attack, believed to be carried out by the armed group Boko Haram, targeted the College of Agriculture in the town of Gujba in Yobe state, area military spokesman Lazarus Eli said.

“There was an attack at the College of Agriculture in Gujba this morning by Boko Haram terrorists who went into the school and opened fire on students,” while they were asleep, Eli said. 

Molima Idi Mato of the Yobe state College of Agriculture told AP news agency that the gunmen also torched classrooms in the attack at about 1am local time.

The college is about 40km from the scene of similar school attacks around Damaturu town. 

Security forces were at the scene but details on the number injured in the attack were not yet available, Eli added.

Gujba is roughly 30km from the state capital of Damaturu.

A police source, who requested anonymity, told AFP news agency that initial reports indicated the death toll could be high but he was not prepared to discuss figures.

source:timesofearth