At least 50 farmers have been killed by suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Malam Karanti village, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
The tragic attack occurred on Thursday, with reports indicating that the assailants, believed to be rival Boko Haram militants, ambushed the farmers in an area controlled by ISWAP, around 9 kilometers from Baga town.
Locals confirmed that the farmers and some fishermen had previously been under the protection of ISWAP’s local commander, Amir Akilu, who collected levies in exchange for their safety. However, the attackers took advantage of the commander’s absence and accused the farmers of being spies or collaborators with their enemies.
A survivor of the attack revealed that the militants surrounded the farmers and threatened to kill anyone attempting to escape. “They gathered us in one place and slaughtered over 50 people, while others were abducted,” the survivor said.
The attackers were reported to have moved on to Dawashi, where similar killings were carried out. The Nigerian government and security agencies have yet to comment on the incident.
This attack follows a similar massacre in Dumba community five months ago, where at least 40 farmers were killed, highlighting the persistent insecurity in the region.
