Nigeria has been grappling with a long-running insurgency in its northeast, primarily driven by the Islamist armed group Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province. The latest attack happened in the village of Malam Karanti last week, the security sources and residents said.

A spokesperson for Nigeria's army did not respond to phone calls and text messages seeking comment. Local resident, Sani Auwal said that militants had gathered farmers and fishermen near the village and killed 23 people, many of them bean farmers. They spared an elderly man who later alerted the community, Auwal said.

Another local resident, Usman Ali said the community had tried to recover the bodies of those killed but had been chased back by the militants.

Last month Borno's governor acknowledged that Boko Haram had renewed attacks and kidnappings in the state, reversing previous gains by security forces.

--Reuters--