Boko Haram Kills 15 Farmers In Borno, Three Missing

By Victor Idajili

At least 15 farmers have been killed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.

The victims were ambushed while working on their farmlands and fetching firewood in Ala and Musune wards on Wednesday evening.

The Borno State Police Command confirmed the attack, saying 15 bodies were recovered while three other farmers are still missing.

Confirming the incident on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, said search operations are ongoing to locate the missing persons.

"Yes, there was an attack in Marte. Fifteen people were killed while others are still missing. Efforts are ongoing to determine their whereabouts," Daso said.

He noted that details of the attack were still sketchy and promised that the command would release more information as investigation progresses.

However, local sources said 18 farmers were attacked in total. According to them, 15 bodies have been recovered and buried on Thursday according to Islamic rites.

The victims were said to be young men, married men and elderly residents who went to the bush to farm and gather firewood for their families.

A community source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the farmers were tied up and executed at close range.

"They were ambushed by terrorists while carrying out their daily work, bound, forced to lie down, and executed at close range," the source said.

The source added that some of the victims were decapitated, making identification difficult.

"So far, we have buried 15 out of the 18; we are currently searching for three persons," he added.

Reacting to the incident, Amnesty International condemned the killings, describing it as horrific and a grave violation of international humanitarian law.

The rights group said the victims were innocent residents who went into the bush to fetch firewood to earn a living.

"The victims, who were residents venturing into the surrounding bush to gather firewood to earn a living or cook for their families, were ambushed and targeted by a suspected Boko Haram group," Amnesty stated.

The organisation called on the Federal Government to take immediate, transparent and human rights-compliant measures to protect vulnerable communities in the North-East.