11 villagers killed in renewed Boko Haram attacks in NE Nigeria

At least 11 people were killed in renewed attacks on two remote communities by Boko Haram in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno, Abba Mohammed, a member of the state-backed Civilian Joint Task Force told Xinhua on Thursday.

The insurgents attacked Gurlum Kwalle and Jajeri villages of Adamari, near Maiduguri, the state capital, late Tuesday, he said.

According to him, fleeing villagers who gave an account of the incident said it was not reported on time to the authorities in the state capital due to absence of telephone network in the remote area.

The deputy governor of Borno State Usman Durkwa and two senior government officials who visited the two villages on Wednesday were told that three of those killed were women.

The local security guard said Boko Haram rode to the two villages on motorcycles and bicycles, shooting at the villagers after setting fire on their houses.

A mass burial of victims was conducted in the presence of the government officials who also did an assessment of the damage caused by the attack.

Boko Haram has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly in northeastern Nigeria, since it launched its campaign of violence in 2009.

The Nigerian army has made progress in the fight against the terror group in the past year, retaking most of the areas previously under Boko Haram's control. Endit