UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned a Boko Haram attack on a village in Nigeria's northeastern Borno State that caused heavy casualties on Sunday, said his spokesman.
Guterres called for those responsible for the violence to be swiftly brought to justice, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman.
The UN chief expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and to the government and people of Nigeria and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Guterres remains deeply concerned about the persisting violence in the Lake Chad Basin region, said the spokesman.
The UN chief commended national and regional initiatives to bring peace and stability to the area and to address the root causes of the conflict. He reiterated his calls on the international community to increase support to regional efforts in the fight against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin.
Boko Haram insurgents ransacked the Mailari village in the restive Borno State on Sunday. Reports on the death toll varied from 19 to over 60.
