Hundreds of villagers fled their homes in Nigeria’s northeast late on Saturday after an attack by Islamist militants from the Boko Haram group, militia officials and witnesses said.

For John Ayuba, Nathan Ibrahim and Marcus Ali, all inmates of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Uhogua in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, life has somewhat been good to them. For years, the trios, from Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, were constantly moving from one place to the other in search of safety and a suitable place to further their studies.

The Nigerian Air Force says the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has neutralised several Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) in air strikes it conducted at Talala in Borno.

The leader of one of two factions of jihadist group Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, claimed a series of attacks in northeast Nigeria in a video message obtained by AFP on Friday.

At least 16 Nigerian soldiers are missing following clashes with Boko Haram jihadists in the Lake Chad area, military and militia sources told AFP on Tuesday.