The attackers also set ablaze all private and public buildings in Malari. (File Photo of Boko Haram Islamists)
Maiduguri, Nigeria:
Suspected Boko Haram Islamists have killed four people following raids on villages in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, a local official and residents said on Saturday.
The motorcycle-riding Islamists late Friday raided two communities, setting homes ablaze, and killing three women and a man in the village of Mairi, they said.
The raids came barely a week after the attack on the village of Dalori, just outside Maiduguri, capital of the restive state, which left at least 85 people dead.
The senator representing the area, Babakaka Garbai, confirmed the killings.
"They killed four persons... and burnt all the houses," he said during a condolence visit to the two affected communities.
One Mairi resident, Baana Bukar, said the attackers rode into the community "and started shooting sporadically."
Residents were "taken unawares as many people were relaxing after the late night Muslim prayers," he said.
"We took to our heels to escape the attack. When we returned in the morning we discovered four persons died," he said.
The women died when their homes were set on fire, "but the man was shot dead with a gun," he added.
Ahmed Tijjani, a senior local vigilante, said in the second raided village of Malari "the people had escaped after hearing gun shots before their arrival."
The attackers also set ablaze all private and public buildings in Malari, he added.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari had in December claimed that Nigeria had largely won the fight against Boko Haram.
Boko Haram which seeks a hardline Islamic state in northern Nigeria has killed some 17,000 people and forced more than 2.6 million others to flee their homes since the start of its insurgency in 2009.
The motorcycle-riding Islamists late Friday raided two communities, setting homes ablaze, and killing three women and a man in the village of Mairi, they said.
The raids came barely a week after the attack on the village of Dalori, just outside Maiduguri, capital of the restive state, which left at least 85 people dead.
The senator representing the area, Babakaka Garbai, confirmed the killings.
"They killed four persons... and burnt all the houses," he said during a condolence visit to the two affected communities.
One Mairi resident, Baana Bukar, said the attackers rode into the community "and started shooting sporadically."
Residents were "taken unawares as many people were relaxing after the late night Muslim prayers," he said.
"We took to our heels to escape the attack. When we returned in the morning we discovered four persons died," he said.
The women died when their homes were set on fire, "but the man was shot dead with a gun," he added.
Ahmed Tijjani, a senior local vigilante, said in the second raided village of Malari "the people had escaped after hearing gun shots before their arrival."
The attackers also set ablaze all private and public buildings in Malari, he added.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari had in December claimed that Nigeria had largely won the fight against Boko Haram.
Boko Haram which seeks a hardline Islamic state in northern Nigeria has killed some 17,000 people and forced more than 2.6 million others to flee their homes since the start of its insurgency in 2009.
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