Three child suicide bombers have set off explosions in north-eastern Nigeria that killed six other people and left another 24 injured.

Islamic extremist group Boko Haram killed 56 villagers in a remote area of Nigeria, the governor of Borno State said today.

As Islamic militants from Boko Haram step up attacks in Nigeria that have led to the slaughter of more civilians, there is increasing talk that international military action, possibly including a multinational force, may be needed to help crush the insurgency in Africa’s most populous country.