At least 15 farmers have been killed by suspected fighters from the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the Baga area of Kukawa Local Government Area, Borno State.
According to local sources, the insurgents, believed to be fleeing ongoing military operations in the Sambisa Forest, launched the attack on Wednesday.
The victims had reportedly left their homes for farming and fishing activities when they were intercepted.
The insurgents allegedly took the farmers to Malam Karanti, a village said to be under their control, where they were slaughtered.
“Our people have been killed by Boko Haram. As I speak, we are yet to recover the bodies, but we were told they are more than 15,” a resident of Baga told reporters.
The source, who requested anonymity, said locals live in constant fear and cannot venture far from their homes due to the threat of insurgent attacks.
He added that attacks on farmers have become a frequent occurrence in the area.
Another resident, an elderly man, described the situation as a violent struggle over access to natural resources.
According to him, the insurgents have established checkpoints and demand fees from locals who want to fish or farm in the region.
“They have gates set up along the river and farmland. If you don’t have their clearance ticket or you try to bypass their gates, they will kill you,” he said.
The man noted that many residents have no choice but to risk their lives, as farming and fishing remain their only means of survival.
The killings have caused widespread grief in the community.
As of Friday night, families were still searching for the bodies of their loved ones while others mourned their losses.
The attack comes amid renewed violence in the region, despite claims that insurgent groups had been significantly weakened. ISWAP fighters have recently launched coordinated attacks on military bases across Borno State, including assaults earlier in the week that left several soldiers dead.
In response, the Nigerian Army has intensified its operations in the Sambisa Forest, a known stronghold of insurgent factions.
Security sources believe the latest attacks on civilians are the result of insurgents fleeing military offensives and targeting vulnerable communities.
Authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the incident.
The Star
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