Suspected members of the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram killed seven people during an attack on a village in north-eastern Nigeria, a local official said Wednesday.

The insurgents invaded the village of Milda in the Madagali local government area of Adamawa State in the late hours of Tuesday, the chairman of Madagali, Muhammad Yusuf told dpa.

"Several gunmen entered the village at night, shooting at people and burning down houses," said Yusuf.

Six people were killed immediately, while another person died Wednesday morning from his injuries, according to the chairman.

Boko Haram poses a steady threat to communities in the north-east of Nigeria and has also launched offensives in neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon. The group's goal is to enforce a strict interpretation of Islamic law, known as sharia.

Since 2009, at least 14,000 people have died at the hands of the Sunni fundamentalists in Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger. According to the United Nations, an estimated 2.7 million people in the region have fled their homes due to Boko Haram.