19 killed as Boko Haram attacks Nigerian village

Nineteen people were killed when Boko Haram militants stormed a village in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno on Monday, local residents have said.

The militants sieged the remote Huyum village in the afternoon, shooting sporadically and indiscriminately at helpless residents, some of whom were returning home from their farms, said Abu Usman, a local hunter in the Askira-Uba district of Borno state.

Residents fled after the deadly attack took place and three others were injured, he said, adding that bereaved families were preparing to bury the deceased on Tuesday after they returned to the village.

Another resident Saleh Hassan said most residents had sought refuge in a neighboring village before they came back to count their losses the next day.

Many residents were left homeless as the attackers burned down houses.

Authorities are yet to comment on the attack but a security source said an investigation has been launched. Endi