Unknown gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents have killed at least 60 people after attacking three communities in BornoState.

The offence of these communities, it was gathered, is divulging information about the Boko Haram sect to security agencies which has led to the arrest and death of some sect members.

The gunmen chose Saturday and Sunday to carry out a bloody “revenge” on residents of Ngom, Maisarmari and Mailari communities in Konduga and Mafa local government areas of the state.

The attack was both massive and gruesome as the attackers used less of bullets and more of knives with which they slashed the throats of their victims after tying their hands to their backs.

Residents believe that the new tactics was employed so as not to attract the attention of security agents.

A politician from the area, who confirmed the death of 12 villagers in Ngom, a village 20 kilometres east of Maiduguri the state capital, said he learnt of another attack in Konduga were 40 persons were shot dead.

A Joint Task Force, JTF, source confirmed that 12 persons were killed at Ngom, while 19 others had their throats slit in surrounding villages on Sunday by unknown gunmen clad in military uniform.

The JTF source said the killing made the task force condone off the road leading to Dikwa for several hours.

As a result of the absence of telephone network for over two months, the villagers could not get across to security agents early enough and by the time the JTF arrived the village, the gunmen had fled in their vehicles and motorcycles.

Many others were injured in the attack.

An official at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, who spoke anonymously to journalists, confirmed that 26 persons who were brought to the hospital on Sunday are currently at the hospital receiving treatment from gunshots and other kinds of wounds.