At least 23 farmers and fishermen were brutally killed by suspected ISWAP fighters on Thursday morning in Malam Karanti, a remote village near Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
The victims, mostly beans farmers from Gwoza, had earlier reached an informal agreement with a rival Boko Haram faction to allow them access to farmland and fishing areas in exchange for regular levies. However, unknown to them, Malam Karanti lies within ISWAP’s territory — a group known for rejecting such deals and enforcing its control through violence.
Eyewitnesses said the insurgents attacked the village around 9:00 a.m., gathered the farmers and fishermen, and executed 23 of them on suspicion of working with Boko Haram. An elderly man was reportedly spared and later returned to the community to raise the alarm.
“They accused the victims of cooperating with Boko Haram and entering ISWAP land without permission,” a local vigilante told reporters. “They didn’t even give them a chance to explain.”
Attempts to recover the bodies failed when the insurgents returned and opened fire on those trying to help, forcing them to flee for safety.
This attack follows a disturbing pattern. Last year, dozens of farmers were killed in Dumba village under similar conditions lured by promises of safety that ended in betrayal.
Governor Babagana Zulum has repeatedly warned residents in Borno against making secret deals with terrorist groups for access to farmland or fishing sites. According to him, such arrangements only increase the risk of attacks and deepen the insecurity in the region.
“Some locals wrongly believe that paying terrorists or cooperating with them will protect them,” a local official said. “But these groups are not trustworthy and often turn against the people.”
Malam Karanti is known to be a dangerous ISWAP stronghold. Still, due to hunger and poverty, many civilians continue to risk their lives by entering these areas to farm and fish.
The attack has sparked fresh concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Borno, where food insecurity and insurgency continue to trap communities in cycles of violence and fear.
