50 students shot dead while sleeping in Nigeria

As many as 50 students have been shot dead as they slept at their college in Nigeria.

A further 1,000 students have fled the scene, with Islamist militants thought to be behind the attack at the Yobe State College of Architecture.

Molima Idi Mato, the head of the school, said that security services are still recovering bodies and a final death toll has not been confirmed.

It is believed several classrooms were also torched during the shootings, which took place early on Sunday moing in the north-easte town of Gujba.

Boko Haram is thought to be behind the attack, a group which is fighting to tu Nigeria into an Islamist state.

In June, the group is believed to have killed 22 students and teachers in two separate attacks.

According to the Nigerian Daily Times, gunmen targeted the area because ‘the youth are now against our course".

In a statement, their spokesman Abu Zannira said: ‘[Young people] have connived with security operatives and are actively supporting the govement of Nigeria in its war against us. We have also resolved to fight back."