The death toll in the recent attack by Boko Haram on residents of Borno State has risen to 81.

Authorities have also stated that 13 persons are still critically injured from the invasion while the insurgents kidnapped seven other persons. 

On Tuesday, 9th of June, Boko Haram fighters attacked Zowo, a village in Gubio town of Borno State with farmers and herdsmen as its main occupants.

The Boko Haram insurgents attacked the village in large numbers shooting sporadically and consequently, killing many who were in sight.

In addition to the killing, the insurgents set the village ablaze on their way out. Reports have it that over a thousand cows were rustled.

Also, hundreds of other livestock were either shot or burnt alive.

The villagers had resisted an earlier attack in April, killing two suspected Boko Haram members.

But this recent attack caught them unaware as the terrorists came at the dead of night.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum on Wednesday paid a visit to the scenes of the deadly attack.

The governor described the attack as cruel and unfortunate. He went with five injured persons in his convoy

He took them for treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

“Last year, about the same number of people were killed in Gajiram. This is barbaric. It is very unfortunate.

“The only solution to end this massacre is by dislodging the insurgents in the shores of Lake Chad. Doing so will require collaborative regional efforts,” Zulum said.

One of the survivors, a male adult, (name undisclosed) narrated what happened during the attack.

“The insurgents in gun trucks and armoured tanks, came around 10 am yesterday (Tuesday). Operated for about six hours and left around 4 pm.

He went on, “They gathered us and said they wanted to deliver religious sermon to us,” he said.

“They asked us to submit whatever arm we had. Some villagers gave up their guns, bow and arrows. The insurgents pretended as if they were not there for any violence.

He continued, “Suddenly, they started shooting at will. Even children and women were not spared. Many were shot at close range. Many started running. At the end end, many persons were killed.

“I have been burying people since from 10:00 pm to about 6 am this morning. We have buried 49 corpses here while another 32 corpses were taken away by families from the villages around us.

“The insurgents abducted seven persons including our village head. They went away with 400 cattle,” he said.