Witnesses say the children were deliberately targeted by the terrorists who destroyed the village by fire.

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Boko Haram fighters are redoubling their efforts in the weeks running up the country’s most important election in decades.

The militants are amassing in the strategic town of Gwoza against a possible fight-back by military forces.

The atrocity in Njaba, some 50 kilometres from the Borno state capital Maiduguri, is aimed at vigilantes opposing the jihadis.

Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger are engaged in a joint operation against the Islamists, who have captured swathes of territory in the northeast and also begun cross-border attacks.

The military says it’s recaptured of several key towns, including Baga, on the shores of Lake Chad.

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