NE Nigeria's Adamawa state hit by renewed Boko Haram violence

Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - Eight people were killed on Tuesday when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a livestock market in northeast Nigeria, as Boko Haram violence escalated further after a period of relative calm.

The suicide bombing targeted a livestock market in a village in Adamawa state, where Islamist gunmen also shot dead three people and kidnapped seven women at the weekend.

Nigeria's military declared Adamawa "cleared" in March as part of a four-nation fightback against the militants launched the previous month.

But the fresh violence underscored the persisting threat posed by Boko Haram, who are expected to step up hit-and-run attacks on civilians after being flushed out of their stronghold across northeast Nigeria.

The bombing happened outside a livestock market at about 1:15 pm (1215 GMT) in the village of Garkida in Adamawa state, said state assembly lawmaker Jerry Kundusi and witness Abdullah Musa.

"We don't know the identity of the assailant but it's obvious it's the work of Boko Haram insurgents," said Kundusi.

Garkida is some 165 kilometres (100 miles) north of the state capital, Yola, and near the state border with Borno, which has been worst affected by the six years of violence.

Kundusi said: "Nine people died in the attack (including the bomber) and 14 others had to be rushed to hospital.

"It was a lone bomber who blew himself up just outside the livestock market."

Musa said he was at home nearby when he heard what he described as "a huge blast".

"When I rushed out I realised that it was an attack just outside the livestock market. Many people were injured and at least nine others were killed (including the bomber)."

On Saturday, a suicide blast at a bus station in the capital of Yobe state, Damaturu, killed seven and injured 31.

- Three killed, women kidnapped -

Dozens of Islamist fighters late on Saturday stormed a village in Adamawa's Madagali district, reportedly aiming to steal food supplies from locals.

"The insurgents attacked the (Sabon Gari Hyembula) village around 10:30 pm (2130 GMT) where they killed three people and kidnapped seven women," said Madagali local government chief Maina Ularamu.

At least 13 people were injured, he told AFP.

Madagali fell under Boko Haram control last August, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.

After the military liberated the area two months ago, those displaced began to trickle home but Ularamu said the latest violence forced civilians to flee again.

He said the Islamist rebels "have been pushed out of Madagali district but there are still remnants... hiding in nearby mountains and bushes".

Security analysts have said that Boko Haram would likely revert to guerrilla tactics against "soft" civilian targets as it is pushed out of captured towns and territory by the military offensive.

At least 55 were killed last week in two separate attacks on villages near the state capital of Borno, Maiduguri.

The conflict has left more than 15,000 people dead since 2009 and forced another 1.5 million from their homes.

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, who will be sworn in next week, has put the fight against the insurgents at the top of his agenda.