At least 81 people died and several were missing after an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants in Nigeria’s northeastern Yobe State, local officials told AFP on Tuesday.

“Around 150 suspected Boko Haram terrorists armed with rifles and RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades] attacked Mafa ward on more than 50 motorcycles around 1600 hours on Sunday,” said Abdulkarim Dungus, a Yobe state police spokesperson.

“They killed many people and burnt many shops and houses. We are yet to ascertain the actual number of those killed in the attack.”

Dungus said it appeared to be a revenge attack “for the killing of two Boko Haram terrorists by vigilantes from the village.”

Bulama Jalaluddeen, a local official, said at least 81 people were killed in the attack.

Fifteen bodies had already been buried by their relations by the time soldiers reached Mafa for the evacuation of the corpses, said the official.

“In addition to these, some unspecified number of dead victims from nearby villages who were caught up in the attack were taken and buried by their kinsmen before the arrival of the soldiers,” added the official. “Many people are still missing and their whereabouts unknown.”

Boko Haram and other extremist groups have waged a 15-year insurgency in northeastern Nigeria that has killed more than 40,000 people.

Central and northwestern Nigeria have been plagued for years by gangs of criminals known as “bandits” who raid villages, kill and abduct residents, and burn homes after looting them.

By working alongside these gangs, militant groups have increasingly established a presence in central Niger state, officials and analysts say. (Text, excluding headline: AFP)