Scores of mourners were mowed down by suspected Boko Haram militants at a funeral in Badu village of Nigeria’s north-eastern state of Borno.
Gunmen on motorcycles and in vans opened fire on mourners in a village near the state capital, Maiduguri, on Saturday, eyewitnesses say.
The death toll was higher than 65 and was seen as a reprisal attack by the insurgents over the killing of their colleagues few weeks ago in the area, AFP news agency reports.
There has been an increase in attacks by Boko Haram and other Islamist groups in Nigeria and across the region.
Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed and more than two million displaced over the past decade of conflict.
Boko Haram was formed around 2002 as a non-violent organisation with the aim of purifying Islam in northern Nigeria, it became increasingly radicalised and eventually adopted militant tactics in pursuit of its aims.
It has been active not only in Nigeria, but also in the neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.
The group has been notorious for kidnapping schoolchildren and attracted global media attention in 2014 following the abduction of almost 300 girls from a school in the town of Chibok, in Borno, the state where the militant group has been most active.
In 2015, Boko Haram was ranked the world’s deadliest terror group by the Institute for Economics and Peace.
Territory controlled by the group has declined in recent years and it has splintered into competing factions.
Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has reiterated his commitment to supporting security agencies to protect lives and property in the state.
Zulum stated this on Sunday when he visited Gajiram, headquarters of Nganzai local government area of the state, to commiserate with the people over the murder of more than 65 villagers by Boko Haram insurgents.
He said that the state government would not not relent until permanent peace was restored to the state.
While condemning the attack, Zulum called on the people to be vigilante and cooperate with security agencies in their communities.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and the families, the fortitude to bear the loss.
The governor also visited Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, and sympathised with persons who sustained injuries in the attack.
Also, Mr Muhammad Bulama, the Chairman of the council, told newsmen that the insurgents attacked Badu village and killed over 60 persons, while 11 others were wounded.
“Two weeks ago, Boko Haram insurgents attacked Badu village but the attack was repelled by the villagers and members of the vigilante group.
“The villagers resisted the attack, killed 11 insurgents and recovered 10 AK-47 rifles in the encounter.
“On Saturday at about 11:40 a.m, the insurgents came on a reprisal mission, attacking mourners at a grave yard in the area, killing over 60 persons and injuring 11 others,” Bulama said.
He added that the wounded had been taken to the Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, for treatment.
Efforts to get reactions from the military on the attack proved abortive, as Col. Ado Isa, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, did not respond to inquiries sent to him through Short Service Message (SMS).
