Sources in northern Nigeria say at least 45 people are dead after suspected Boko Haram militants attacked a village in Borno State.
The reports say Boko Haram militants stormed Azaya Kura village in the Mafa area at about noon local time Wednesday and started attacking residents and destroying houses. The militants also carted away food, wares and livestock.
The caretaker chairman of Mafa Council, Alhaji Shettima Lawan, confirmed the attack, as did an official of the local militia Nigeria Vigilante Group.
Local resident Jabir Usman told reporters in Maidguri that villagers have counted 45 victims. He said there may be more bodies yet to be found.
Most residents in Mafa, the headquarters of the Mafa local council, fled their homes nearly two months ago after Boko Haram assailants established their authority in the area.
On Thursday, the Nigerian House of Representatives chose not to vote on President Goodluck Jonathan's request to extend the state of emergency in three northeastern states.
The country's main opposition party said the special powers failed to curb Boko Haram violence in the region. But a spokesman for the House told the French news agency that the president remains free to deploy troops "to trouble spots" in the country.
Boko Haram is blamed for thousands of deaths during its five-year insurgency. The group has seized a number of towns of Borno and Adamawa states for what it calls a caliphate, to be ruled under strict Islamic law.
Some information in this report was provided by AFP.
