At least 55 people were killed in two Boko Haram raids this week near Maiduguri, capital of restive northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state, local and vigilante sources said Friday.

At least 55 people were killed in two Boko Haram raids this week near Maiduguri, capital of restive northeastern Nigeria's Borno state, local and vigilante sources said Friday.

"Boko Haram fighters raided Bale and Kayamla villages where they killed at least 55 people and burnt several homes after looting them before proceeding to the outskirts of Maiduguri where they were crushed by troops," vigilante official Abacha Zinnari said.

"They killed 30 people in Kayamla and another 25 in Bale," he added.

Bale resident Husseini Ari said the village on Thursday buried 25 people killed in the previous day's raid while several others who were injured were taken to hospital.

"The village is mourning the death of 25 people killed in the Boko Haram attack," Ari said Friday.

A group of heavily armed Boko Haram fighters late Wednesday launched an offensive on Maiduguri city which was repelled by troops from a military base on the outskirts of the city, according to the military and residents.

The terrorists had raided the villages before the foiled assault on the city but the story was slow to emerge following a round-the-clock curfew imposed on the city by the military on Thursday which restricted movement.

"The gunmen burnt around 50 houses and looted food stores and livestock," said Ari, adding that the insurgents targeted homes they identified as belonging to vigilantes in the village

Musa Kumbo, a resident of Kayamla, said at least 30 people were killed in the Boko Haram raid on that village and surrounding settlements.

"The attackers were heard shouting that they would come back and finish their operation once they were done with Maiduguri," Kumbo said.

At least three soldiers, six vigilantes and dozens of Boko Haram insurgents were killed during clashes in Maiduguri on Wednesday evening, sources have said.