Suspected Islamist militants called Boko Haram have killed at least 60 people in an attack on a village in northeast Nigeria, Reuters reported.
In a separate attack, eight more people were killed at a teacher training college in the remote village of Dikwa on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
Boko Haram wants to make an Islamic state out of Africa's most populous country which is split between Christians and Muslims, Reuters reported. Since the militants began their mission of creating an Islamist state almost five year ago, they have killed thousands in the northeast.
Witnesses said the gunmen attacked the village of Kala Balge, near the Cameroon border, on Thursday, from several different quarters, shooting sporadically as terrified residents tried to flee, according to Reuters.
"I'm making efforts to evacuate my parents from the town," said Ibrahim Bukar, 35, after escaping the attack, Reuters reported.
He said he counted 60 bodies scattered around after the insurgents left but said most have since been buried by the villagers, according to Reuters.
"They entered at night. They killed my brother Madu. The insurgents shot him in front of his wife and two sons. Then they shot them, too," Yakubu Saleh said, Reuters reported.
President Goodluck Jonathan ordered extra troops into northeast Nigeria last May to try to crush the rebels, the biggest security threat to Africa's top oil producer, according to Reuters.
Since the attacks, the rebels have retreated into the remote Gwoza area, bordering Cameroon, from where they have stepped up their campaign and are mounting deadly attacks against security forces and civilians they accuse of being pro-government, Reuters reported.
