Official: Suspected militants kill groom, 30 guests in wedding convoy in northeast Nigeria

YOLA, Nigeria – A government spokesman says suspected Islamic militants attacked a wedding convoy in northeast Nigeria and killed more than 30 people including the groom.

Amadawa state spokesman Ahmad Sajo said the wedding ceremony had taken place in Adamawa’s Fugi village and the groom and guests were driving home when they were attacked Saturday on the highway between Bama and Gwoza towns in neighbouring Maiduguri state. That road runs alongside forests that are a known hideout of Islamic militants from the Boko Haram terrorist network.

Last week suspected extremists attacked a military checkpoint on the road and witnesses said they killed at least four security force members.

Attacks have continued though the military has driven the insurgents from major towns in the northeast under a more than 5-month-old state of emergency.