Thousands of extra troops have been sent
to north-eastern Nigeria
At least 87 people have
been killed in an attack by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria's
north-eastern Borno state, according to local officials.
They also razed dozens of buildings in Tuesday's attack.
Boko Haram, which wants to create an Islamic state across Nigeria, has waged a deadly insurgency since 2009.
Communications with Borno state have been
severely disrupted since May, when a state of emergency was declared in
Borno and two neighbouring states.
Local vigilante groups have been formed to help counter the militants but scores of these volunteers have been killed in recent weeks.
Borno state governor Kashim Shettima visited the scene on Thursday, and described the killings as "barbaric and un-Islamic", and pledged financial assistance to relatives of the victims.
The Boko Haram members drove into the town in about 20 pick-up trucks, AFP quoted an anonymous security source as saying
He said they were heavily-armed, some with "anti-aircraft guns".
Benisheik was also the scene of fierce clashes earlier this month, which reportedly left five militants and 13 vigilante members dead.
The town lies 70km (45 miles) west of the state capital, Maiduguri, where Boko Haram was founded in 2002.
Last month, the army said it had killed Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau but this has not been confirmed and the militants' attacks have continued.
Observers says it appears Boko Haram is taking revenge against vigilante groups, adding weight to fears that the strategy may trigger an escalation of the violence.
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