No fewer than 26 persons have been killed in some villages in Borno State in attacks launched by men suspected to be members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect.

The attacks, it was gathered, began on Sunday night and continued through to Wednesday in Southern Borno, affecting about 40 houses.

The villages attacked include Bdagu, Izge, Hartsa and Yazza villages in Gwoza, Damboa and Askira -Uba local government areas of Borno state respectively.

The insurgents also suffered casualties as three  of them were killed when residents of some neighbouring villages of Dille and Lassa mobilized and pursued them into the bush.

A source from Bdagu said that the attackers between Monday and Wednesday, stormed the affected villages using two Hilux vehicles, three buses and over 30 motorcycles armed with AK47 rifles.

They went from house to house, killing, looting and setting houses and farmlands ablaze, the source said.

Another source from Yazza village appeled to the state government and the Army to immediately deploy military troops to the area, saying residents now live in fear of future attacks.

He said it was unfortunate that the attackers operated with impunity, without any hindrance from helpless unarmed villagers.

It was however difficult to get official confirmation of the attacks as at the time of filing this report, although a security official who was not authorized to speak to the press confirmed the attacks and killings in the villages.