Abuja, Oct 28 (IANS): Eight farmers were shot dead by suspected Boko Haram members who attacked a village near Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno, a security source said on Wednesday.

The victims were gunned down on Tuesday, while fleeing from Boko Haram rebels who attacked Jakana Village, located 50 km away from Maiduguri, the theater of insurgency in the northeast region of Nigeria, an unnamed security source told Xinhua via telephone.

The fleeing farmers were summarily rounded up and shot by the gunmen who had earlier attacked their community riding on motorcycles, the source said, adding the victims were buried on Wednesday by their families.

Fighting against the government to create an Islamic state, the Boko Haram has carried out waves of bombings, held hundreds of hostages and attacked many communities in the northern region and capital city of Nigeria over the years.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered military chiefs to end the insurgency of Boko Haram in the most populous African country by December.