Nigeria’s government has said it is “outraged and deeply saddened” after militants attacked a remote village and reportedly kidnapped about 200 people.
The attack was carried out by suspected Boko Haram gunmen.
A government spokesman said the Islamist group was spreading terror by targeting civilians.
Boko Haram has been waging an insurgency since 2009 and is seeking to create an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.
The attack happened on Sunday but news only emerged on Thursday after survivors reached the city of Maiduguri.
So far there has been no official claim of responsibility from any group.
Government spokesman Mike Omeri released a statement condemning the “deplorable act” late on Thursday.
“It is impossible to verify the number of those missing at this early stage because it is presumed that many civilians fled during the attack,” he said.
One witness, who said he helped bury 33 bodies, claimed that about 200 women and children had been kidnapped from Gumsuri village in the north-eastern Borno state.
There have been an increasing number of attacks in Nigeria since three states – Borno, Adamawa and Yobe – were put under emergency rule more than 18 months ago.
Source: BBC