Maiduguri Evangelist Murdered By Suspected Boko Haram Adherents

MAIDUGURI, August 07, (THEWILL) – Police in Maiduguri on Tuesday announced the killing of Ali Samari, an evangelist with a Pentecostal church in the town, by gunmen suspected to be adherents of the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

Police sources said he was killed at his Mafoni residence at exactly 6.30pm on Monday, after two gunmen trailed him to his house from work.

According to residents, Samari had been warned by suspected Boko Haram members to vacate his residence. But after reportedly discussing with one or two people, he refused to heed the threat, saying he believed that only God could protect.

Gideon Jibrin, public relations officer of the Borno State Police Command, confirming the incident, disclosed that the Police received a report of the killing on Tuesday morning. He added that Mafoni, where it took place, is one of the hotbeds of Boko Haram insurgency identified by the Joint Task Force and Police.

“It is a place where some members of the Boko Haram sect use as a hideout and from where they launch attacks on other parts of Maiduguri metropolis,” Jubrin said.

Fifty-seven-year-old Samari, asides being an evangelist with the Good News Church (GNC) Maiduguri, repairs wrist watches at the Post Office Area of the town.