Abuja, July 25, (RHC), – Suspected Boko Haram Islamist militants have killed at least 21 people during an attack on a village in the northeast of Nigeria, local residents say.

A resident said Saturday that the militants stormed the village of Maika-diri in Borno State at about 9:00 a.m. local time and opened fire on people.

According to local residents, many people fled the village while houses and shops were set ablaze.

Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” controls large parts of northeastern Nigeria. Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria are the four African countries which have been directly affected by the growing threat of Boko Haram in recent months.