(Reuters) - Suspected Islamist fighters went on the rampage in northeast Nigeria overnight, killing 10 Christians with guns and machetes and burning down their houses, witnesses said on Sunday.

The attack happened in a village called Chibok, in a remote part of northeastern Borno state, at the heart of an insurgency led by Islamist sect Boko Haram.

"Suspected Boko Haram came at night and set people's houses on fire before killing their victims," said Nuhu Clark, a former local councillor of the village who escaped the attack.

He said he counted ten bodies afterwards.

A police spokesman said they were aware of the incident but were still trying to confirm casualties.

Islamist fighters have killed hundreds of people since launching an uprising against the government in 2009, the usual targets being security forces, government officials or Christians, whom Boko Haram sees as infidels.

But the insecurity the conflict has created has also enabled criminal gangs who are nothing to do with the sect kill and rob.

In a separate incident, militants burned down three churches on Saturday in Gamboru, also in Borno state, said trader Umar Abubakar, who witnessed the attack.

Such attacks on Christians seem calculated to ignite sectarian tensions in Africa's most populous nation, which is split roughly evenly between Muslims and Christians. They mostly live side by side in peace, although bouts of violence between the communities sometimes flare up.

Boko Haram, which wants to carve out an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, has been blamed for more than 1,000 deaths since its insurgency intensified in 2010. The United States has designated three of Boko Haram's senior members as terrorists.

Its leader Abubakar Shekau praised jihadist movements across the globe on Thursday in a new video, and singled out the United States, Britain, Israel and Nigeria as enemies.

(Reporting by Ibrahim Mshelizza; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Sophie

http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/12/02/nigeria-violence-christians-idINDEE8B107X20121202

Are they(boko haram) not talking with the gov't? and people are stil dying? It is even difficult now for the gov't to knw the boko haram it will dialogue with.

Look, some people are using Boko Haram to perpetuate their evil plans!

Local champions in the north are behind Boko Haram not their national politicians.. I can bet on that.

It's all these local champion who don't know how Nigeria works that are causing this nonsense not Atiku, Buhari or even Bauchi state Governor.

If ds is true, then I guess that FISHERMAN is dialouging wt the fake boko bois..*jsttinking*

But i still dont understand why christians are still in the north.... And some of them had faith but also died in sin,which means HELLFIRE.. Be wise xtians

This stupid christians!!!you're there looking.you better arm and defend yourselves una wey dey stay village for borno again kai..una go dey slip dey drool like say nofin dey happen

It must have been ordained by GOD. . .with whom all things are possible!
Men! They must be going straight to heaven!
I don't envy them at all!
What a way to meet their "God"!

See dis christians in the north should better buy gun put for house..all dis one wey boko go dey show themselves anyhw cos we no dey fight in the name of religion..

F Uck sake just heard on BBC radio smh

So instead of NPF to swing into action and make arrests, they are still there trying to confirm casualties almost 24hrs after the incident. Anybody residing in the north should be permitted by law to own & keep guns. IMO.

Government activities must continue to run smoothly
notwithstanding the spate of terrorist attacks by
Boko Haram, President Goodluck Jonathan said
Sunday. We are still winning war against the sect

valicious1: So instead of NPF to swing into action and make arrests, they are still there trying to confirm casualties almost 24hrs after the incident. Anybody residing in the north should be permitted by law to own & keep guns. IMO.

Amnesty International is watching NPF.

Every killing, every robbery, every banditry,every act of lawlessness is now conveniently linked to boko haram! And followed by Islam bashing on nairaland. Soon kidnappings, ritual killings and murders which are every day occurrences in the south would be conveniently blamed on bh.

Where are all these people that were screaming about GAYS yesterday?!!

U̶̲̥̅̊ na be next!

Then who are the people Jonathan is holding secret talk with in Senegal?
When did Boko haram turn to Matrix,that has one body,many imitations?

This is NOT Boko Haram. putting one plus one together tells me Boko Haram does not act like this. Maybe some other people are pursuing vendatta.

Just passing

When will all dis bombing and killing stop... dia's no day u wakeup without hearing sum stupid bad news...

Sumtimes i jus wonder Y we r so much loved by our God,cos most of our atrocities pass Sodom n gomora own...

Tis now i jus believe dat its truelly GOD's mercy dat's kipin us... I wish i'll wakeup oneday n ear dia's no more crime...

mu2sa2: Every killing, every robbery, every banditry,every act of lawlessness is now conveniently linked to boko haram! And followed by Islam bashing on nairaland. Soon kidnappings, ritual killings and murders which are every day occurrences in the south would be conveniently blamed on bh.

u must be a member of dat terrorist islamic religion

So d moderator had d impetus to hide my post, leavin the post of muslims. I knw he must be a muslim too. But bad news for him= dat post got 25 likes b4 he could even wake up to hide it . Weather u lik, hide my post and leave those muslim posts. If u lik ban me for one year. I dnt care i'll stil say the truth and dat truth wil set me free. ISLAM IS A PRODUCT OF SATAN, DAT DRAGON SPOKEN OF IN REVELATION. "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Revelation 12:17) , the dragon is using HIS FOUNDED RELIGION(ISLAM) to terminat all those wit d testimony of Jesus. But at last we shall hav victory...and the dragon fought and his angels but prevailed not,neither was dr place found anymore in Heaven-rev 12:8 . Keep killin Christians, but be rest assured dat ur place is nowhere again found in Heaven

bola4dprec: Amnesty International is watching NPF.

And so?

bola4dprec: Amnesty International is watching NPF.

Abeg tell me more about amnesty international.

"Let's learn to live with it . . ."

valicious1:
And so?

anyone eliminate by the force will be regarded as an innocents by the fundamental human right activist

Nowadays, Every crime that happens in Nigeria esp if it happens in the Northern part of Nigeria is Boko-Haram

Reuters and most news agencies give Boko-Haram too much prominence.

bola4dprec: anyone eliminate by the force will be regarded as an innocents by the fundamental human right activist

Bros I neva undastand o.