At least 29 killed in suspected Boko Haram attack on Nigeria villages: official

At least 29 people were confirmed killed after suspected Boko Haram fighters raided villages in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno on Monday and early Tuesday, a local official said. The insurgents stormed Dille community and two other surrounding villages in Askira Uba local district of the restive Borno State, destroying lives and property of the local people in one of the latest incidents of insecurity in the West African country, Jubrin Satumari, a federal lawmaker representing the province in the Nigerian parliament, told Xinhua. "It was really a sad day for me to learn that there were renewed attacks in my constituency. People are being killed in cold blood, churches, mosques, shops and residential houses were destroyed, it is very unfortunate. I pray for the repose of the souls of those killed by insurgents and quick recovery for the injured ones," he said, adding many of the survivors had gunshot wounds. The Nigerian official said the suspected Boko Haram fighters, who stormed the area on motorcycles and vans, used petrol bombs and AK 47 rifles to wreak havoc on the villages. The attack began on Monday afternoon and snowballed to Tuesday morning. Local residents blamed extremist group Boko Haram for the attack. The group usually claims responsibility for such attacks in the most populous country in Africa. Since 2009, Boko Haram has killed more than 13,000 people in violent attacks in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and biggest economy. On July 14, 2014, Boko Haram was responsible for the killing of at least 14 residents in Dille community, a predominantly Christian settlement in Borno State. The group also burned down three churches in the area, during the attack last year. Boko Haram stepped up its attacks in the northeastern region of Nigeria since May 29, after President Muhammadu Buhari announced the relocation of the military command center to Borno State in a bid to rout the terror group from its stronghold.