They burned a church, ransacked food supplies meant for distribution on Christmas Day, looted medicines and set fire to the local hospital.

The death toll could rise as villagers fled into the bush during the attack and some people are still unaccounted for. Unconfirmed reports said a priest was also kidnapped.

In a statement on the 24th of December, President Muhammadu Buhari “reiterated the promise of his administration to remain unyielding in confronting the Boko Haram insurgency as well as other forms of criminality.”

“For me, providing security for all residents in the country remains an article of faith,” Buhari said in a written Christmas message.

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