Landmine kills three in northeast Nigeria

Three civilian fighters on their way to combat Boko Haram militants in northeast Nigeria have been killed when their vehicle hit a landmine.

Local residents said on Tuesday that seven more fighters on board the vehicle were injured.

"We lost three of our colleagues to a roadside bomb yesterday evening on their way to repel Boko Haram in Huyum," said Adamu Galadima, a fighter in the town of Askira Uba.

"The vigilantes were approaching Huyum, which was under Boko Haram attack, when the front tire of their vehicle hit a bomb planted by the attackers", said Galadima, who attended the victims' funerals.

Boko Haram militants had laid mine traps for soldiers coming from Askira or vigilantes from nearby hamlets, said Huyum resident Peter Malgwui.

"Vigilantes from Chul heard of the attack and rushed to counter the Boko Haram gunmen when they hit the bomb, killing three and injuring seven," added Malgwui, who fled following the attack.

Boko Haram gunmen travelling in an open van attacked Huyum at about 7:30 pm (1830 GMT), firing indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee into the bush, he said.

A woman was shot dead in the attack while a girl was shot and injured in the leg, he added.

The gunmen were believed to have come from nearby Sambisa forest, which has long been Boko Haram's enclave and base.

On June 8 last year Boko Haram killed 15 in a sweeping raid on Huyum, torching the entire farming village using petrol after looting food supplies and livestock.

Months later, residents who fled that attack began returning to the village to rebuild their homes following a series of successes by the military against Boko Haram.

Nigeria says the government forces continuous counter-offensive has left Boko Haram "technically" defeated but sporadic attacks on civilian targets by the Takfiri militants, who have pledged allegiance to Daesh militants, continue.

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