Abuja, June 25 (RHC)-- Boko Haram Takfiri militants have shot dead at least 42 people in violent attacks on two villages in northeastern Nigeria's Borno State, security sources say. The causalities were caused after about 30 militants on motorcycles and pick-up trucks launched attacks on Debiro Biu and Debiro Hawul.

A senior regional security official confirmed on Wednesday that more than 40 people had lost their lives in the latest deadly militant raids. "We received reports of attacks by suspected Boko Haram gunmen on the two villages in which 42 deaths were recorded," the unnamed police officer said.

Meanwhile, Umaru Markus, a local resident who fled Debiro Hawul, said that after killing the villagers, the militants looted shops and set fire to their houses in the area.

"They came around 12:30 am (1130 GMT) and opened fire on the village which sent people scampering into the bush to escape the attack," Markus said, adding: “The gunmen slaughtered 22 people who were not fast enough in fleeing and went about looting homes, grains silos and drug stores."

He also noted that the militant group had slaughtered at least 20 people during the violent attack on neighboring Debiro Biu village.

Also on Tuesday, a least 10 people were killed in northeast Nigeria in a bombing attack carried out by a girl believed to be 12. The girl detonated her explosives at a market in the area of Wagir, in the Gujba district, south of Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, Borno's western neighbor.

Boko Haram started its campaign of terror in Nigeria in 2009. The violence has spilled over into Nigeria’s neighboring countries. Boko Haram's terrorist attacks have claimed the lives of some 15,000 people over the past several years.