Suspected Islamist extremists have stormed a mosque and shot dead 44 worshippers as well as 12 other people in a nearby village in Nigeria's restive northeast, officials said on Monday.
.
The attacks at the weekend were believed to be in revenge over citizen vigilante groups forming to help the military battle Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, which has been waging an insurgency since 2009.
.
"Gunmen believed to be Boko Haram members entered the mosque and opened fire on Muslim worshippers, killing 44," a senior government official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly of the attack in Konduga on Sunday.
.
"We believe the attack was not unconnected with the cooperation residents are giving to security operatives in identifying and arresting Boko Haram members in their midst."
Boko Haram need to be fully eradicated. We know JTF is working but they need to finish off the little amount of members remaining.