Many passengers who were stranded in Borno State were killed on Sunday night at Auno, a village near Maiduguri, the state capital by Boko Haram terrorists.
While some reports claim that 10 persons were killed, some others put the casualty figure as high as 30.
The Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Olusegun Adeniyi, who spoke to journalists at the headquarters of operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri on Monday confirmed the incident saying the passengers were forced to pass the night at Auno village, 24 kilometers away from Maiduguri, due to their inability to meet up with the 5pm curfew imposed by the Army for travelers.
He however, did not give the casualty figures.
Channels Television meanwhile quoted some eyewitnesses as saying that at least 20 people died in the attack while about 18 cars, including heavy-duty trucks, were burnt during the attack.
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The eyewitnesses also said an unspecified number of people, mostly women were abducted by the terrorists.
The Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, accompanied by the Garrison Commander 7 Division, Nigerian Army, visited the scene and sympathised with the victims.
The governor, visibly shaken by the charred remains of the victims burnt by the fire from burnt vehicles, requested the military authorities to dismantle the Auno gate from its present position and move it further away from the village.
This, he said would make more difficult for insurgents to gain access into the village.
Gov. Zulum assured the people that the state government would assist those whose vehicles were destroyed in the attack as well as those whose goods were burnt alongside the vehicles transporting foodstuff and other wares into Maiduguri.
He pleaded with the people to remain calm and law abiding in the face of the challenges, promising that government will look for a way out the situation.
