Boko Haram suspected in murder of at least 15 people

Islamic militants killed at least 15 people in attacks on two Nigerian towns, according to the Associated Press.

On Friday in Musari unknown gunman murdered men, woman and children. Mshelia Inusa, a teacher in the village who witnessed the massacre, spoke to the AP.

"We heard some people chanting, 'God is great, God is great' amid sounds of banging on doors of houses at about 1 a.m.," she said. "A voice was heard ordering people to be slaughtered and also voices of children were heard screaming."

Though no group claimed responsibility, Boko Haram (the name roughly means "Western education is sacrilege") is active in the region and has claimed attacks in the area before. 

More from GlobalPost: 2012 was a banner year for Boko Haram, but not for Nigerians 

The second attack occurred in Maiha, when unidentified gunman attacked and burnt down government buildings.

Police spokesman Mohammed Ibrahim spoke to PM News about the attack, saying prisoners had escaped. 

"The satellite prison in Maiha was broken into and burnt by the attackers," he said. "They freed inmates before setting the prison on fire. I can’t say how many inmates were freed at the moment because I don’t have the actual number of prisoners at the time of the attack.”

Boko Haram, which has ties to Al Qaeda, is suspected of over 750 deaths this year, having attacked churches, schools and government offices.