Boko Haram revisits Borno rice farmers, kill 13, as bandits’ attack leaves five dead in Katsina

Three years after slaughtering 76 farmers on their rice fields in a Borno village in 2020, Boko Haram terrorists have revisited another village in the state, killing 13.

This is also bandits have returned to terrorise communities in the North West region of the country after a lull, with a Monday attack in a Katsina leaving five persons dead and two injured, as confirmed by the police in the state.

The latest killings took place in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, Sunday evening.

It was gathered that the insurgents stormed rice fields and rounded up the farmers who were harvesting their farm produce in Karkut and Koshebe General Area, Mafa council area, slaughtering them with knives.

According to Civilian Joint Task Force sources, 13 dead bodies have been recovered as the search for missing people continues.

“We are sad this incident is happening again this year, we lost more than a dozen of our farmers from Zabarmari who were attacked on Sunday evening while working on their rice fields in Mafa LGA.

“The whole town is sad and we are mourning as we speak. Security agencies and CJTF are still searching for those who are missing but 13 dead bodies have so far been recovered,” a source said.

A top security source said the terrorists who were on motorcycles divided themselves into three groups before attacking the farmers.

The source said the assailants did not use their guns, instead, they used cutlasses and knives.

“Nine bodies were recovered as of Yesterday (Sunday) night, while the search for others who fled the attacks is still ongoing,” he said.

It would be recalled that in November 2020, the Boko Haram terrorists massacred 76 farmers on their rice fields near the village of Zabarmari, about 20km from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The Boko Haram jihadi group claimed responsibility for a brutal massacre of farm workers as the death toll rose to 76.

It was initially unclear which Boko Haram faction was behind the assault, but the main group loyal to shadowy leader Abubakar Shekau said in a video Tuesday it was “responsible for what happened around Maiduguri in recent days… especially in Zabarmari.”

Shekau, in a three-minute video, said his group killed 78 farmers because “the farmers arrested and handed one of its brothers to the Nigerian Army.”

Borno state Government said the death toll had risen from 70 to 76.

The Boko Haram video appeared to confirm reports that the attack was waged to seek revenge on villagers for seizing the group’s fighters and handing them over to the authorities.

In 2016, the group split into two groups — the main faction led by now late Abubakar Shekau and the IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Both groups have been blamed for increasing attacks on civilians they accuse of spying for the army and pro-government militia.

Meanwhile, responding to the resurgence of terror arracks in Borno State, the House of Representatives has resolved to mandate the Nigerian Army to immediately mobilise troops to the affected areas to neutralise terrorists and restore normalcy to the villages of Koshebe, Karkut And Bulabulin In Jere Mafa Local Government Area of Borno state, attacked by Boko Haram terrorists.

The House, during Tuesday’s plenary, also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), North East Development Commission (NEDC) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to ‘as a matter of urgency mobilise humanitarian and relief materials to the affected area.’

The resolution followed a Motion of Urgent Public Importance on the ” Need For Urgent Military Intervention And Rescue Of Missing Farmers Of Koshebe, Karkut And Bulabulin In Jere Mafa Local Government Area Attacked By Boko Haram Terrorists, moved by Hon Ahmed Satomi, at plenary.

The motion informed that on Saturday, 4th November, 2023, heavily armed Boko Haram terrorists attacked Zabarmari farmers working in their rice fields in the three villages of Jere Mafa Local Government Area killing several of them. Worried that this attack was carried out by terrorists less than 20 kilometers from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital

”Further worried by the dynamic and strategy deployed by these terrorists attackers who were on motorcycles , divided themselves into three groups and attacked not with guns but rather used cutlasses and knives to stab and butcher the victims. Note that currently Security forces and Civilian Joint Task Force groups in the Nigerian North East of Borno have recovered 9 dead bodies while search continues in a bid to find more people who are still missing,” it said.

The House also alarmed that inspite of the terrorists attack of Saturday, 4th November and the current search and rescue operations which is ongoing, another attack and massacre of about 50 persons was again carried out in the night of Sunday , 5th November, 2023.

“Further alarmed that if urgent and drastic steps are not taken, the area may be overrun by terrorists with attendant dire consequences.”

The House also mandated the Committees on Army and Disaster and Emergency Preparedness to ensure compliance.

Meanwhile, in what has been a renewed resurgence of insecurity in the North West region of the country, in recent times, the Katsina State Police Command has confirmed five persons dead while two others injured during an attack by bandits in Sayaya village of Matazu Local Government Area of the state.

A statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Abubakar Aliyu and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Katsina, said the incident occurred, Monday morning.

“On Nov. 6, 2023, at about 0055 hours, armed bandits in their numbers, wielding dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles and shooting sporadically, attacked Sayaya village, Matazu Local Government, Katsina State.

“Upon receipt of the report, immediately operatives were mobilised to the scene, where they engaged the bandits in a gun duel and succeeded in repelling the attack.

“However, five people were shot dead and two others were injured,” the police report read.

The police spokesperson added that five other people were kidnapped by the assailants during the incident.

He revealed that the injured persons were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

Aliyu said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Aliyu Abubakar-Musa, sympathised with the families of the victims.

The PPRO added that the CP urged the public with information that would aid the investigation to come forward and assist, adding that efforts were being intensified to ensure the rescue of the kidnapped victims unhurt and the arrest of perpetrators of the dastardly act.