NEMA denies killing of 15 Christians in Borno, confirms two shot dead

The National Emergency Management Agency has denied a report that 15 Christians were killed on the outskirts of Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday.
Though some of the reports claimed a source from NEMA provided the information, the agency said it not only contacted the same officer quoted, who denied it in its entirety, but also assigned a special team to investigate and verify the allegation, which was later found to be unsubstantiated and untrue.
A statement by the spokesperson of NEMA, Yushau Shuaib, however, said two persons were killed by unidentified gunmen around the same area on Sunday.
Their remains have been deposited in a hospital.
The victims were a security man and a bystander.
Like other similar attacks, the agency could not classify the victims as Muslims or Christians because it said most of the attacks in that North East axis are nondiscriminatory between religion, tribe and section of the victims.
The statement added: “This could be deduced from the caliber of personalities including retired military generals, traditional rulers, politicians, public officers, businesspeople, security personnel, traders, students among other that were victims of such attacks.
“It is necessary to point out that NEMA would never release figures of casualty in whatever form without concrete evidence and certification from relevant authorities including the medical personnel and security agencies.
“The tradition of collaboration with stakeholder in information management during outbreaks of disaster in any part of the country is to eradicate erroneous impressions and misinformation as well as guard against unnecessary reprisal attacks from such speculations.
“Meanwhile, in another development NEMA has provided relief materials to the victims of recent communal clash between Fulani and Gwari in Gwagwalada area of Abuja over encroachment on farmlands.
“Two truckloads of relief materials that include beddings, food items, toiletries, medicaments and tents have been distributed to the victims who are currently squatting in a temporary camp on the Permanent Campus of the University of Abuja.”