Sect kills 30 in reprisal attacks on vigilance groups

Boko Haram is now targeting vigilance group members in Borno State  killing about 30 in separate attacks on  at least two  villages in Borno State on Thursday.

Attacked were Morofo in Marte local government area where 25 were killed and Kinmi in Biu Local government area which lost five residents.

The deceased were described as members of the local vigilance groups.

The Boko Haram attacks appeared to be reprisals on vigilance  groups following the recent killing of scores of Boko Haram members by vigilance groups in two communities in the state.

Most villages have formed vigilance groups to  protect their communities from militant attacks.

Residents from  Morofo and Kinmi said the invaders came in a convoy and gathered the men of the community together.

They accused them of being members of vigilante groups and killed them all, one villager from Moforo  who escaped across the border to Cameroon told the BBC Hausa service.

They then burnt down all the shops in the market, leaving the villagers destitute, he said.

A resident of Kimbi village  said the villagers contacted the security forces to alert them to their attack, but were told it was not an area under military control so they could not be helped.

Sect kills 30 in reprisal attacks on vigilance groups