At least 15 civilians were killed in an attack attributed to suspected Boko Haram militants in northeastern Nigeria, authorities and local sources reported Friday. The violence occurred late Wednesday into early Thursday across three villages—Ala, Gummna, and Musune—in Marte local government area, located roughly 130 kilometers northeast of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

According to Borno state police spokesperson Nahum Daso, the victims were primarily farmers and firewood gatherers. Residents described the assailants as ambushing the victims, who included both young men and village elders, before binding and executing them at close range while they were working in the bushlands.

Community members recovered the bodies from the surrounding areas and conducted burials on Thursday evening following Islamic funeral rites. Police confirmed that security forces are actively searching for three additional residents who remain unaccounted for after the attack.

Boko Haram, an Islamist insurgent group that has waged a prolonged insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, frequently targets rural communities in Borno State. The group’s assaults have led to thousands of deaths and widespread displacement in the region over the past decade. Security operations continue in an effort to curb ongoing militant activities and protect vulnerable populations.