Nigeria’s murderous sect Boko Haram has turned its attention to vigilantes known as Civilian JTF who have been assisting the military in fighting terrorism in the country’s North-East, especially in Borno State.

Yesterday, more than 30 people were killed overnight when Boko Haram raided three Borno villages targeting the vigilantes, reports BBC.

“Residents from two of the villages that came under attack said militants had arrived in a convoy and gathered the men of the community together,” says the report, adding:

“They accused them of being members of vigilante groups and killed them all, one villager from Moforo in Marte district 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.

Correspondents say that most villages have formed vigilante groups to try to protect their communities from militant attacks.

“A resident of Kimbi village in Biu district 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.

“The military has not commented on the allegation.

“About 25 men were killed in Moforo, another eight men in Kimbi. It is not known if there were casualties from a raid early on Friday on Kabrihu village near the Sambisa forest.”

•Photo, courtesy of Reuters, shows a group of anti-Boko Haram vigilantes.