UN chief and refugee agency head condemn killing of Nigeria's people

In a statement, Mr. Guterres called for an end to attacks against civilians and reaffirmed that such acts of violence are "grave threats to the security of human beings and constitute violations of international humanitarian law".

The killing of some 65 people by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in north-east Nigeria, has been condemned by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Filippo Grandi, head of the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

In a statement, Mr. Guterres called for an end to attacks against civilians and reaffirmed that such acts of violence are "grave threats to the security of human beings and constitute violations of international humanitarian law".

In a Tweet published on Sunday, Mr. Grandi described the attack as a "terrible massacre", and wrote that "grave insecurity continues to devastate civilian lives in the region including more than two million displaced people and refugees".

According to media reports, gunmen opened fire on a funeral at a village near Maidaguri, the capital of Borno state, killing several immediately, while others died trying to chase away the attackers.

Militants from groups such as Boko Haram have contributed to a decade-long humanitarian crisis in Borno. Civilians have borne the brunt of an insurgency that has led to widespread forced displacement and human rights violations.