At least, 22 farmers from various parts of Borno State were killed by Boko Haram jihadists and fighters of Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP). This is in addition to 46 farmers killed between May 3, 2022 and May 26 of this year.
This, WikkiTimes understands, would have a dire consequence for food security as economic reality bites harder in the country.
According to a Daily Trust report, 22 farmers alongside other civilians in Borno were killed by the terror groups in just two weeks.
The month of June came with a number of violent attacks on unsuspecting locals in various parts of Borno with the lastest being on 26th when suspected Boko Haram militants waylaid eight farmers on their way to farm and slaughtered seven farmers in Damboa LGA.
“It is sad; seven people lost their lives and you see it is difficult for us to tell these people not to go to farm. We are working hard to ensure they are protected,” a security source who preferred anonymity revealed.
Earlier on June 14, the terrorists killed 15 people working on their farmlands. Bukar Ali Musty, a top member of the vigilante group, said the farmers were working on their farmlands near Molai, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, when the insurgents attacked and beheaded them.
Displaced Borno Farmer Recounts How He Was Kidnapped by Jihadists
“At least 15 dead bodies were evacuated after the attack this morning,” he said. “Seven farmers were beheaded while working on their farms and the attackers also slit the throats of eight other harmless civilians in their homes.”
On June 22, eight woodmongers were also killed in a fresh Boko Haram attack in Mafa, the local government council of Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum. This attack, which came barely a week after that of the slain farmers, happened in Bulamari village.
According to a Civilian JTF source, the insurgents killed eight out of the nine young loggers who were under the age of 20 and deliberately spared the life of one.
“They only allowed one Babakura, a 15-year-old boy, to come and break the story in the town.
“They tied their hands behind their backs and shot them in the heads. We went there together with the Civilians’ Joint Task Force to bring the corpses for burial; only one person was married among them, and all of them were young men,” he said.
On June 30, six other people, including a woman, were killed by the suspected Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) in Damboa Local Government Area of the state.
According to sources, the attackers stormed the town around 8:30 pm and fired mortar bombs into Damboa town, the local government headquarters, and 21 innocent people were injured.
Sources from the security claimed that after failing to gain access into the town, the attackers hauled a mortar bomb that killed six people and injured 21 in Wulari area, near the district head’s palace.
“Yes, there was an attack by ISWAP last night in Damboa town. We lost six people including women and more than 20 people were taken to the hospital, but the situation is calm now,” a security source said.
A top member of Civilian JTF told Daily Trust that those killed included housewives and aged women.
AS MILITARY OFFENSIVE SPIKED, TERROR GROUP WARNED FARMERS, FISHERMEN TO AVOID FARMLANDS
WikkiTimes had earlier reported that ISWAP fighters now suffering military offensives in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, banned farmers and fishermen from accessing their farms.
The terror group believes the farmers are spying on them for the military. They, however, vowed to kill anyone spotted around Katikime, Bulungahe, Kutukungunla, Chikun Gudu, Tumbumma, Guma Kura, Guma Gana and Marte communities.
