‘20 herders’ killed as ISWAP fighters attack Borno communities

At least 20 Fulani herdsmen have been reportedly killed by members of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) during attacks on some Borno communities.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said the terrorists invaded Kukawa village and killed 14 herders on July 25.

The ISWAP fighters were said to have earlier imposed a ban on farming, fishing and cattle-rearing in Kukawa, Doro, and Kula areas.

The publication said the terrorists stormed the communities on 17 motorcycles and accused the herdsmen of trespassing and spying on them for the Nigerian army.

According to Makama, the insurgents reportedly beheaded many of the victims before they moved towards Kukawa, Doro, and Kula communities.

The publication added that six more herdsmen were killed by the terrorists who attacked Kukawa village on the same day.

Four bodies were later recovered from the scene by some of the villagers who escaped the attack.

In another development, the ISWAP fighters abducted seven herdsmen during an attack on the Monguno community on July 24.

An undisclosed number of other herders were also abducted from Garere village in Gudumbali LGA by the terrorists who demanded N40 million as ransom for their release.

The publication added terrorists have been operating around the communities for about a week and has forced many of the residents to flee for safety around Lake Chad, Cameroon and the Niger Republic.