Nigerian Extremists Attack Villages, Kill 37 and Raze Huts

Boko Haram extremists have burned down six northeast Nigerian villages and killed 37 people near the insurgents’ Sambisa Forest stronghold

This video-image released on Oct. 31, 2014, by Boko Haram shows Abubakar Shekau (C), the leader of Nigeria's Islamic extremist group. AP Photo/Boko Haram

BAUCHI, Nigeria—Boko Haram extremists have burned down six northeast Nigerian villages and killed 37 people near the insurgents’ Sambisa Forest stronghold, a survivor said Friday.

Ahmed Ajimi, a fighter in the anti-Boko Haram Nigerian Vigilante Group, said many victims of Wednesday night’s attacks were farmers who had recently returned home after soldiers earlier this year forced the extremists out of the area where they had declared an Islamic caliphate.