Suspected Boko Haram militants have killed at least 45 people in northeastern Nigeria, the latest in a series of deadly attacks in the area.
Witnesses say gunmen stormed the town of Mainok on Monday evening and killed at least 30 people in addition to burning down hundreds of homes.
Abubakar Danmalam, who is part of a civilian group helping the army fight the militants, said some victims were “burnt beyond recognition.”
Late on Tuesday, gunmen attacked the village of Warsala on the border between Borno and Yobe states. A resident of the village, Aisami Goni, says 15 people were killed.
Another local resident, Hamza Baba, told VOA on Wednesday that thousands of people in the area are fleeing their homes.
The attacks came just hours after President Muhammadu Buhari replaced all of Nigeria’s military chiefs in another step aimed at halting the six-year Boko Haram insurgency.
The new army chief and national security advisor come from Borno, a step welcomed by the state governor, Kashim Shettima.
He said the new generals understand the terrain and can easily connect with communities to get local support.
“Nigeria now has the best of chances to overcome the challenges of insurgency facing it since 2009,” the governor said.
