Concerns are mounting in Nigeria over the increase in deadly attacks by Islamist militants group Boko Haram, believed to be in response to President Muhammadu Buhari’s latest order to crack down on the militants.
The latest attacks by Boko Haram make for the most gruesome attacks by the group this year.
In one attack in a rural town in Maiduguri the group killed 27-sliting the throats of some of their victims.
Meanwhile Nigerian border authorities have said the insurgents have killed scores within the past week in Cameroon.
They descended on a small border town called Kolofata near Cameroonian border with Nigeria-there they killed more than a dozen and torched 30 houses.
The latest attacks represent a spike in Boko Haram attacks even after then-acting president Yemi Osinbajo ordered military chiefs to the north east to directly oversee operations there.
That directive was echoed by President Muhammadu Buhari upon his return from medical vacation from the UK.
The military insists the new offensive is paying off.
The army is crediting the surrender of 70 insurgents last week to the latest scale up of offensive against the insurgents.
Among them senior commanders who are said to be volunteering valuable intelligence including the whereabouts of notorious Boko Haram commander Abubakar Shakau.
