Twenty villagers in northeast Nigeria were slaughtered by Boko Haram terrorists after they couldn’t provide the full amount of demanded Islamist tax, a fee pushed on those of non-Muslim belief because they’re considered second-class citizens.
Boko Haram is the same group who kidnapped more than 200 girls from a Nigerian school because they wanted to learn and threatened to sell them.
Nigeria’s Daily Post reported that Boko Haram militants warned Kamuyya villagers two months ago that they would need to come up with $1,500 for the Jizya tax. But when Boko Haram returned this week, the villagers were short — they hadn’t even accrued half.
The villagers are mostly poverty-stricken, Breitbart reported. But at the same time, few took the warning from Boko Haram seriously, either.
“Actually, when they issued such threat, we all took it lightly, as we are all relaxed and nobody bothered to make any extra effort to put in the amount they requested. Maybe that was what ignited this bloody attack because we were unable to meet their demand,” said one local, to the Daily Post.
The terror group members, armed with automatic rifles and explosive devices, struck at the marketplace in Kamuyya village, killing 20 and injuring dozens. They also burned down shops and vehicles that were parked in the marketplace area, Breitbart reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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