KANO  (AFP) – An unidentified gunmen on Thursday shot dead a Christian trader in his shop in Damaturu, a cleric and a resident said.

“We lost one of our Christian brothers today to some gunmen. He was shot dead by unknown gunmen inside his shop,” in the capital of Yobe state, hard hit by violence blamed on Islamist group Boko Haram, Idi Garba, a priest, told AFP.

“This is the first such attack in the area since violence erupted in the past weeks,” said Garba, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the state. He declined to speculate on who the killers were.

A resident in the city also confirmed the killing but gave no details.

On Monday, an unidentified gunmen shot dead three Chadian nationals in Damaturu, the police said.

The gunman, armed with a rifle, stole mobile phones from the Chadian masons and shot them dead. Damaturu is near the Chadian border.