ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A survivor hidden in a tree says he watched Boko Haram extremists firebomb huts and listened to the screams of children burning to death in the latest attack by Nigeria' s homegrown Islamic extremists.

Witnesses say scores of charred corpses and bodies with bullet wounds litter the streets from Saturday night's attack on Dalori village just 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Maiduguri, the biggest city in the northeast.

They say the insurgents ravaged the settlement for four hours. Then, three female suicide bombers blew up among people who were fleeing.

One man survived by staying up a tree until soldiers arrived Sunday. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

Nigeria's 6-year Islamic uprising has killed about 20,000 people and driven 2.5 million from their homes.