Nearly 30 students were killed after the Islamist group Boko Haram ambushed a Nigerian boarding school, the military told Reuters on Tuesday.
The school burned down in the attack which occurred Tuesday during the pre-dawn hours. Most of the 29 students who died perished in the fire.
"Some of the students bodies were burned to ashes," Sanusi Rufai, police commissioner, told Reuters. The school involved was the Federal Government college of Buni Yadi, located in the Yobe state in northeast Nigeria. Rufai said all of the victims were males.
Residents told the BBC that some of the students were shot, and others had their throats slit.
The military said they are trying to confirm the details of the attack. The number of deaths could rise.
"Details are still sketchy due to lack of telephone access," Yobe military spokesman Captain Lazarus Eli told AFP. "And it is still not clear how many students were affected in the attack."
Boko Haram, which translates to "Western education is sinful," has become an increasing threat to Nigeria's civilian population. Another attack in the village of Mamudo last June left 22 students dead, Reuters reported. Over 200 people died in two separate attacks last week, one where Boko Haram shot locals as they tried to escape when they raided their village.
Thousands of Nigerians have died at the hand of the Islamist group. Their goal is to form an Islamic state north of the country. Nigeria is the largest oil exporter in Africa, Reuters reported.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has attempted and failed to stop Boko Haram, drawing criticism that the military is not protecting Nigerians. Boko Haram began its Islamist campaign in 2009.
Eli assured the press the military is doing what it can to bring the militants to justice.
"Our men are down there in pursuit of the killers," Eli said, according to Reuters.
