Footage of the victims released by the terror groups show a woman begging for her life.

The organization that goes by its French acronym ACF confirmed that a Nigerian staff member, two health workers and two drivers were abducted in  Damasak in Borno state near Nigeria’s border with Niger last week. One driver died in the attack.

ACF says the workers had devoted their lived to helping feed people in a country where more than half of the 200 000 population live below the poverty line.

Boko Haram and a splinter group Islamic State West African Province operate in Borno state with government forces unable to curb them.

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There’s fierce fighting in that the northeast of that country as West Africa neighbours – Niger, Chad and Cameroon – join in the fight against Boko Haram.

The Islamist militants have held Damasak near the Niger border since November.

It’s part of the 20 000 square kilometres Boko Haram’s captured since stepping up attacks in the region.

Military sources say about 10 Chadian soldiers and 200 militants were killed.

The fighting comes days after Boko Haram pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

The militants are getting weapons smuggled from Libya which has become an armoury for all unrest in the region.

On Friday, the African Union endorsed the creation of a regional force of more than 8 000 troops to combat Boko Haram.

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The Islamist fighters, who killed 50 people when they seized a nearby village last week, have infiltrated the town of Damasak disguised as traders.

It’s Nigeria’s most senior Islamic leader who’s accusing the soldiers of cowardice.

The Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubaker says the troops are terrorising civilians rather than defending them.

They made themselves known only after the Boko Haram attack when they searched homes and set up road blocks.

The terrorists came to town carrying what appeared to be containers loaded with good for sale.

In fact they bore arms for the attack.

Eyewitnesses say they left many genuine traders lying dead in the market.

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