Suspected Islamic militants kill 30 in wedding convoy in Nigeria

Yola (Nigeria), Nov 4: Suspected

militants attacked a wedding convoy in Northeast Nigeria and killed more than 30 people including the bridegroom, a state government spokesperson said on Monday.

Military spokesman Lt Colonel Muhammed Dole said only five people were killed in Sunday's attack on the highway between Gama and Gwoza towns in Borno state. The road runs alongside forests that are a known hideout of Islamic militants of the Boko Haram terrorist network.

But a minibus taxi driver said he passed many bodies on the road near the Firgi village, where the wedding ceremony took place on Sunday.

The groom and guests were driving to Admawa when they were attacked

"We saw a lot of dead bodies killed by gunshots, and some by the roadside that appeared to have been slaughtered' with their throats slit, the driver, who asked to be identified only as Shaibu, told reporters on Sunday in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

Shaibu said his terrified passengers wanted to turn back, but "I took the risk, and said God is in control."

Adamawa state spokesman Ahmad Sajoh said the wedding fatiha, the official Muslim ceremony, had taken place in Firgi village in neighbouring Borno state and the groom and guests were driving home to Admawa when they were attacked.

Last week, suspected extremists attacked a military checkpoint in the same area and witnesses said they killed at least four security force members and made off with army vehicles, weapons and ammunition.

PTI