At least 27 people were killed by Boko Haram insurgents in two separate attacks on villagers in a border town in Nigeria's northeast Borno state, official said Sunday.
The insurgents attacked Gamboru town, 130 km from Maiduguri, the Borno state capital Wednesday and Thursday nights, Xinhua cited Modu Gana Sheriff, chairman of Gamboru local government, as saying.
Sheriff described the incident as heinous crime against humanity, calling on Nigerians to condemn the attack on villagers.
He also appealed to the youth vigilante members not to be deterred by the killing of their colleagues.
He distributed money and food items to the affected families and the youth volunteer groups.
A military source said the attackers Wednesday stormed the village and opened fire on the youth volunteers while the second attack Thursday, too, was equally well-coordinated.