Gunmen kill two in Nigeria's restive north: residents

KANO, Nigeria (AFP) - Gunmen riding on motorcyles killed two people on Monday in Nigeria's restive northern region that has been rocked by a wave of recent attacks blamed on the Islamist group Boko Haram, residents said.

The attacks in the town of Gamboru Ngala in Borno state, which borders Cameroon, also seriously injured two people.

"The attackers came on a motorcycle while the four men were preparing for evening prayers and opened fire on them," said a resident who requested anonymity.

There were no indications as to who carried out the raid.

Boko Haram, an Islamist group blamed for more than 200 deaths already this year, has claimed a series of recent gun attacks, but those have largely targetted police.

The group claimed a January 20 attack in the north's main city of Kano that killed at least 185, its deadliest ever assault.

There have been a series of smaller attacks since then in Kano and other northern cities, some carried out by gunmen riding on motorcycles.