No fewer than 40 farmers have been reportedly killed in the Dumba community in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, with the whereabouts of several others yet to be ascertained following an attack by the terrorists believed to be members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province.
Chronicle NG gathered that the Boko Haram attack, which happened around 4:30 pm on Sunday, also left dozens of farmers missing who may have been abducted by the militants.
The attack was confirmed by the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, in a statement on Monday.
“Investigation has commenced on the circumstances behind this attack. Initial reports indicate about 40 farmers have been killed, while the whereabouts of many who escaped the attack are being traced for reunion with their families,” Tar revealed.
This comes just 24 hours after a similar attack on the Chibok town in the state’s south claimed the lives of two people and set fire to a church.
He claimed Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the attack in “strong terms,” even as he urged the military to track down and clear insurgents operating in Dumba and other similar enclaves around Lake Chad.
According to sources, the victims were attacked by terrorists after crossing the military-marked security track around the communities to prevent inhabitants from entering Boko Haram or ISWAP areas.
Boko Haram has carried out three devastating attacks in the Kukawa area since 2014, when terrorist attacks in Borno State increased.
Boko Haram sacked Baga, the seat of Kukawa Local Government and one of Borno’s commercial hubs, in December 2019 after a two-day violent attack.
Nearly a dozen military personnel were apprehended and then executed in a horrible manner. Thousands of inhabitants evacuated their houses, marking the town’s third large-scale displacement since 2014.
In the statement, Zulum decried the tragic attack on farmers and fishermen in Dumba. He expressed his grief over the incident and asked the troops to find the killers.
Tar stated that initial reports suggested that the attackers killed approximately 40 individuals and that several others fled to adjacent locations while efforts were underway to locate survivors and reconnect them with their families.
He stated that the governor directed the armed forces to hunt and neutralise the culprits operating in Dumba and other enclaves in Lake Chad.
He assured the residents that the state government was committed to ensuring justice and enhancing security.
“With deep sorrow and anguish, I received the sad news of the attack on Dumba, where scores of our farmers and fishermen were killed by terrorists.
“On behalf of the government, I sympathise with the victims’ families. Let me assure the citizens of Borno that this matter will be thoroughly investigated for necessary action,” he said.
According to him, Zulum noted that the victims had ventured outside the security perimeters established by the government and military into areas not yet cleared of insurgents or landmines.
He urged the Borno people to adhere to the “safe corridors” demarcated by security agencies to avoid such risks.
“The government has clearly demarcated land for safe farming and economic activities, allowing the military to focus on clearing unsafe areas. Citizens should not enter areas prone to terrorist attacks or contaminated by landmines,” he added.
