London: Scores of people, including children, have been killed in a Nigerian town by Boko Haram fighters who shot at villagers and set fire to their homes.
The attack took place in the village of Dalori, which lies about 12 km from the northern city of Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram and the biggest city in Nigeria’s north-east,reports the Guardian.
Some 86 people died after Boko Haram fighters arrived in the village, initially shooting at locals from their cars before setting fire to huts with people inside.
The militants also tried to storm a nearby refugee camp, housing 25,000 people.
A survivor who hid in a tree during the attack reported that he watched Boko Haram fighters firebomb huts and heard the screams of children burning to death.
The assailants arrived ‘in two cars and on motorcycles and they opened fire then set light to homes.Three female suicide bombers who had initially tried to mingle with the villagers were intercepted, then blew themselves up.
The shooting, burning and explosions from three suicide bombers continued for nearly four hours.(ANI)