Last week, Boko Haram jihadists killed more than 150 people in a deadly raid on a remote village in northeast Nigeria.

Dozens of Boko Haram militants launched an assault on Kukuwa village in Yobe state last Thursday, killing 151 villagers. About 140 people drowned in a river, and 11 others were shot dead fleeing gunmen, according to Independent.

"The terrorists invaded Kukuwa village and its surroundings on motorcycles and pick-up trucks and started shooting at every possible target," Mohammed Ibrahim, member of the local vigilance group, told This Day Live.

"Most of the villagers were drowned in the river which was flooded by the heavy rainfall while others were shot dead by the terrorists," he said.

"By our latest toll we have 150 people either [shot dead] or drowned in the attack. The gunmen deliberately killed a fisherman who tried to save drowning residents of the village," Modu Balumi, a villager told AFP.

A Kobe state police officer confirmed the attack but did not release information on the numberf of causalities.

"I can confirm that there was an attack at Kukuwa village and the police and other security operatives were able to repel the Boko Haram attackers. We are not aware of the high death toll," Yobe State Police Command Toyin Gbadegesin told Punch Nigeria.

Meanwhile, a Nigerian government security officer put the death toll much lower, at around 50, according to Leadership Nigeria.

The attacks came just a few days before Boko Haram Leader Abubakar Shekau released an audio message claiming that he is alive and still in charge of terror outfit amid his death rumors, according to a HNGN report.