Boko Haram insurgents killed at least seven people in a Christmas Eve attack at Pemi, Borno State.
The predominantly Christian village, on Thursday, witnessed indiscriminate shootings and buildings set on fire, militia leader Abwaku Kabu was quoted as saying by AFP.
The village is located only 20 kilometres from Chibok, where Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls six years ago.
According to Kabu, the fighters arrived in trucks and motorcycles.
Security agencies had in recent days warned of an increased risk of attack during the Christmas holiday.
“The terrorists killed seven people, burnt 10 homes and looted food supplies that were meant to be distributed to residents to celebrate Christmas,” Kabu said.
A body was found Friday morning, local community leader Ayuba Alamson said, raising the number of dead to seven.
The toll could rise as villagers fled into the bush during the attack and some people are still unaccounted for.
The assailants, who drove from the group’s nearby Sambisa forest enclave, looted medical supplies from a hospital before setting it ablaze, the militia leader said, adding they also burnt a church and abducted a priest.
