Maiduguri - The Borno Police Command on Tuesday confirmed that gunmen killed 18 local hunters in Damboa, headquarters of Damboa Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Gideon Jibrin, the spokesman of the command, said in a text message to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri, that he got news of the incident.
"Yes, I heard information about the killings but I do not have the details. I do not even know how many people were involved.
"I promise to let you know as soon as I get the details," Jibrin said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the gunmen had on Monday, shot dead the hunters while they were transacting business at the Damboa market.
The attackers had invaded the bush meat section of the market and opened fire on the hunters who were selling their kill.
An witness, Mallam Usman Sale, told NAN that the hunters were shot for allegedly selling wild pigs and monkeys' meat at the market.
Sale added that some persons had earlier last week, warned the hunters to stop the business before the incident.
"Some persons came to warn the hunters because, according to them, the business was un-Islamic.
"But we never though it will lead to the killing," he said.
NAN reports that the incident paralysed business activities in the market as shops were immediately closed while residents fled the area.
The state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, visited the area to ascertain the number of casualty and the actual happenings.
The District Head, Alhaji Abba Ahmed, told the deputy governor that the attackers invaded the market, using three Volkswagen Golf cars to carry out their nefarious acts.
He said 13 of the victims died on the spot, while others died after being rushed to hospital.
- NAN