About 24 youths in the fold of the Civilian JTF have been killed in Monguno, Borno state, as search for members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect continues.

It was gathered Saturday, that about 100 vigilante youths stormed territories of sect around Kaleri,Shuwari, Maganari and Nannari villages in a bid to capture them but got more than they bargained for.

Members of the sect who had probably got wind of the plan, disguised in military clothes and stolen patrol vehicles and posing as military officers ambushed the vigilante group.

The youths were thus tricked into approaching the impostors in uniform for partnership.

About 15 of them were immediately gunned down, a source told journalists.

The source said nine youths who wore charms and could not be killed with guns were made to lie on the road while a moving vehicle ran them over, bringing all the deaths recorded to 24.

Some other “lucky” youths escaped with broken arms and legs, while about 36 are said to be missing.

“The vigilante youths numbering over 100 were on a mission to capture some Boko Haram terrorists in their camps  before they were ambushed by the terrorists which led to the death of 24 vigilante youths, while about 36 were still missing,” the source said.

According to the account, there was an initial arrangement with military troops that they will accompany the vigilante youths to the Monguno camp of the sect members, but when the youths waited for hours without seeing them, they decided to go on their own.

It was gathered that the caretaker chairman of Monguno local government council. MohammedMongunu travelled to Maiduguri yesterday to brief Governor Kashim Shettima on the incident.