Boko Haram sect kills 30 in reprisal attacks on vigilance groups

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

The vigilance members were attacked at 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.

Nation