Residents in northern Cameroon say Boko Haram extremists have killed seven hostages and abducted eight young girls who were aboard a public transport bus hijacked by the militants over the weekend.

Chetima Ahmidou told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the bodies of seven victims had been dumped near Cameroon's border with Nigeria. Ahmidou's brother was the driver of the bus and was among those slain.

Ahmidou said that eight girls between the ages of 11 and 14 were taken back to Nigeria by the Islamic extremists. Boko Haram abducted more than 200 schoolgirls last year from Chibok an act which drew international condemnation.

Boko Haram has intensified its attacks in Cameroon and Niger over the past week after both countries agreed to provide soldiers to a multinational military force.