Twelve civilians have been killed in an attack carried out by Boko Haram terrorists in northern Cameroon, military officials say.

According to Major Nlate Eballe, the operations officer of Cameroon’s Operation Alpha special military unit, the Takfiri terrorists launched their cross-border attack on Dia, a village located in the country’s far north region, early on Friday.

“They came in hundreds. They torched Dia village and killed 12 people,” he further added.

“A large number of livestock” has also been “stolen” by the group, a source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Security forces have previously identified Dia as a recruiting ground for the Takfiri militants.

Cameroon declared war on Boko Haram last May after the group started to frequently infiltrate into the country from neighboring Nigeria.

The militants have claimed responsibility for a number of deadly shooting attacks and bombings in various parts of Nigeria since the beginning of their militancy in 2009, which has so far left over 13,000 people dead and displaced 1.5 million others.

Nigeria’s President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to spare no effort to step up the fight against terror perpetrated by the militants.