On the 28th of January, 2019, in a village in northern Nigeria, Boko Haram killed at least 60 people. The onslaught took place in the border town of Rann. Amnesty International has called the attack devastating and one of the bloodiest assaults by the radical group since its formation.

In what looks to be the standard operating procedure for Boko Haram, the militants targeted a small, poorly defended village along the Cameroon border. The fighters approached quickly in gun trucks and motorcycles, causing panic and inflicting carnage.

Locals recall seeing fighters from Boko Haram chasing down residents as they fled the assault. Some residents were able slip away from the onslaught, but others weren’t so lucky. Many were hunted down and slaughtered like animals.

Some witnesses claim soldiers abandoned their positions just days before the attack, although no immediate statement has been released by the military. The United Nations noted a recent withdrawal of a multinational task force and a regional counterterrorism unit from the area. Security forces in the north have suffered from insufficient equipment, lack of support, and low morale.