The relentless Boko Haram terrorist group was on Sunday suspected of killing 15 persons at a local market in Daku village of Askira/Uba local government area of Borno State.

Askira is in southern Borno and shares boundaries with Biu, Chibok, Gwoza and Hawul council areas, being about 190 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.

About 20 gunmen armed with AK47 rifles, improvised Explosive Devices and petrol bombs invaded the market square on motorcycles and a Hilux Toyota vehicle at about 11am and opened fire on some of the traders.

The men, who seemed desperate also carted away food items and an unspecified amount of money before setting the shops, houses, cars and motorcycles on fire.

At the end of the attack which lasted about an hour, 15 dead bodies were recovered from the scene.