The rebels were forced out of Damasak last week by Chadian and Nigerian soldiers. Several people were killed and buildings destroyed in the latest attack there, local government employee Usmanu Yusuf said by telephone from Maiduguri.

He said an undetermined number of people were taken away against their will in several pickup trucks. He described the victims as mostly women and children, possibly numbering 350.

"Young and able-bodied men and women who were lucky escaped when the Boko Haram took over the town," Yusuf said. "The only people left were the aged and mainly women and children who could not make it out. It is these people that they killed, and took away some others."

There was no immediate confirmation from the Nigerian military.

--Sapa-dpa--