‘Nine farmers killed’ as terrorists attack Borno communities

At least nine Zabarmari rice farmers have reportedly been killed during an attack by Boko Haram terrorists on some Borno communities.

According to Zagazola Makama, a country-insurgency publication in the Lake Chad region, the incident occurred on Sunday when the farmers were harvesting crops.

Zabarmari is a farming community located about 25 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno capital. It is famous for its rice production.

The publication said the terrorists stormed the villages on several motorbikes, adding that they divided themselves into three groups before attacking the farmers.

“The heavily armed terrorists stormed rice fields and attacked the farmers who were harvesting their farm input in the villages of KOSHEBE, KARKUT and BULABULIN in Mafa local government area, less than 20 kilometers from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital,” the publication said.

A source told Makama that during the attack, the terrorists dropped their guns and used cutlasses and knives to stab the farmers multiple times.

The source said nine corpses had been recovered as of Sunday, while several persons have been reported missing.

The security operatives and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Borno are still searching for the missing residents.

Over the years, Zabarmari farmers have been targeted by Boko Haram insurgents who kill or abduct them during attacks on communities.

In November 2020, about 45 Zabarmari farmers were killed by terrorists at Kwashabe village, about 20 kilometres north of Maiduguri.