ISLAMIST extremists have abducted 60 more girls and women and 31 boys from villages in north-east Nigeria, witnesses said today.

Nigerian security forces disputed the kidnappings had taken place and there was no way to independently confirm the report from Kummabza, which is 95 miles from Borno state capital Maiduguri.

But Kummabza resident Aji Khalil confirmed that the abductions took place on Saturday in a Boko Haram attack in which four villagers were killed.

And a senior councillor from the local government area of Damboa also confirmed the abductions. 

He said elderly survivors of the attack had walked some 15 miles to the relative safety of other villages.

Boko Haram has been demanding the release of detained members in exchange for its hostages but President Goodluck Jonathan has insisted he will not consider a swap.

Boko Haram has embarked on a two-pronged strategy this year — bombing cities and a scorched-earth policy in rural areas.