Nigeria firewood attack toll rises to 28, militias say

Anti-jihadist militias told AFP on Sunday that at least 28 people had been found dead after an attack on villagers gathering firewood in northeastern Nigeria's Borno state.

Fifteen people were initially reported killed and buried on Thursday in Marte village. Militia leader Babakura Kolo said search teams found 13 more bodies on Saturday in nearby bushes, all with gunshot wounds.

Marte resident Mustapha Grema told AFP the victims had gone out to collect firewood, which many displaced families use for cooking and other household needs.

AFP reported that the attackers were suspected Boko Haram fighters. Borno state has been the centre of a jihadist insurgency by Boko Haram and later its splinter group ISWAP for more than 17 years.

Boko Haram and ISWAP have increasingly targeted farmers, fishermen, loggers, herders and metal scrap collectors in the region, accusing them of passing information to the military.