Boko Haram kidnaps more than 100 children and women in raid near Chibok

More than 100 children and women are reported to have kidnapped by suspected Boko Haram gunmen who killed 35 people in a raid on a Nigerian village.

The attack bears the hallmarks of the Islamist militants who abducted more than 200 girls from their school in Chibok – which is just 30 miles away.

The village of Gumsuri in the northeast of the country happened four days ago – but was only reported today due to the lack of mobile communications in the area. Survivors apparently had to walk long distances to avoid areas run by jihadists.

A woman from the village said: “They gathered the people, shot dead over 30 people and took away more than 100 women and children in two open-top trucks.” She said the gunmen also burned down a health centre, shops and houses.

CNN reported Gumsuri resident Umar Ari, as saying: “They destroyed almost half the village and took away 185 women, girls and boys.”

The news agency AFP reported that an official said a vigilante group that had protected the village from previous attacks was overpowered. It also quoted a resident who fled to Maiduguri as saying: “After killing our youths, the insurgents have taken away our wives and daughters.”

The Chibok girls have been missing since they were kidnapped in April. Boko Haram 

Earlier this month, 69 schools in neighbouring Cameroon were closed, damaged or open only intermittently after raids by Boko Haram.