At least 43 killed as gunmen raid Nigeria villages

At least 43 people were killed after gunmen stormed four villages in northern Nigeria's restive Borno state, local official and residents said Tuesday.

The attacks took place last weekend in Monguno, an area that has suffered deadly violence in the past, police said.

Borno State police chief, Aderemi Opadokun, declined to give the exact casualty figures but said the militant group Boko Haram was suspected to be behind the attacks.

But local officials put the death toll so far at 43, adding that the number could rise as scores of others sustained injuries in the attacks.

Bukar Abdullahi, a local chief, said the gunmen slit people's throats of residents and fired at fleeing crowds.

"This happened for several hours," he said.

Another local chief named Baba Maigoro, said the gunmen also took away the villagers' property.

The attacks were carried out in typical Boko Haram style. The group has been targeting civilians to cause panic and mount pressure on the government.

It has killed more than 13,000 people since its insurgency started in 2009. Endi