Over 70 bodies found near town freed from Boko Haram

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan is seeking a second term in office, but faces severe criticism for his failure to deal with Boko Haram. (Photo: REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye)

Soldiers from Niger and Chad made a gruesome discovery on Friday outside Damasak in neighbouring Nigeria.

At least 70 bodies were found near a bridge outside of the town, which had been recently freed from the grips of Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram.

Witnesses told Reuters that some of the bodies had been beheaded, and were skeletal and partially mummified.

Damasak fell to Boko Haram in November, but was reclaimed by Nigerien and Chadian soldiers on Saturday.

The countries, along with Cameroon, are part of a coalition fighting to break Boko Haram's grip on the region.

The discovery of the bodies came just after Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan boasted that terrorists "are getting weaker and weaker by the day," and predicted territories would be reclaimed by the government in the coming weeks.

"I'm very hopeful that it will not take us more than a month to recover the old territories that hitherto have been in [Boko Haram's] hands," he told the BBC on Friday.

The Sunni Muslim extremists have led a reign of terror across Nigeria with increasing brutality over the past five years, with kidnappings, suicide bombings, and mass executions leaving thousands dead and millions displaced.

Boko Haram became internationally known after kidnapping over 270 children from an all-girls school in Chibok, Nigeria on April 14, 2014. A second mass kidnapping occurred on May 4 in Warabe. Over 200 girls remain missing, but President Jonathan expressed confidence that they will be found alive.

"We have not seen dead girls, that is the good news," he said this week. "I believe they are still alive, I believe we will get them."

BBC reported that civilians in neighbouring countries have not joined up with the Nigerian-based terrorists, stifling the group's goal of creating a caliphate.

News
Wildwood Kin’s Meg Loney on how a 24/7 prayer meeting brought her back from the brink 
Wildwood Kin’s Meg Loney on how a 24/7 prayer meeting brought her back from the brink 

Meg Loney went from the depths of drug addiction to being a follower of Christ bringing hope and healing to others with her music.

How going to prison for a crime I didn’t commit changed my life – for the better
How going to prison for a crime I didn’t commit changed my life – for the better

In 2008, Wilson Femayi was wrongly convicted and sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He had just graduated from Bible college. His arrest — the result of a personal vendetta — was a devastating moment. But even in that dark place, God was at work. Today, Wilson is the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Zimbabwe, leading programmes that are restoring prisoners and reuniting families across the country.

Christians in Africa face worsening violence, report finds
Christians in Africa face worsening violence, report finds

A new report from International Christian Concern (ICC) has revealed a disturbing rise in violence against Christians across parts of Africa, with Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Kenya experiencing a surge in attacks, abductions, massacres and forced displacements.

Nicaragua crackdown on Christianity deepens amid political power grab
Nicaragua crackdown on Christianity deepens amid political power grab

A new policy brief released by Open Doors has exposed as a systematic campaign of repression against Christian communities in Nicaragua.