Islamic terrorists killed at least 110 farm workers and wounded dozens in an attack in northeast Nigeria on Saturday and Sunday. Analyst claimed ghastly act was carried out by Islamic State affiliated group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) whereas the local blamed it on Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram.
The United Nation (UN) Coordinator in Nigeria said the weekend attack on farmer workers which left 110 people dead was blamed on Islamic terrorists. It’s the deadliest attack on civilians this year. The region is plagued by Islamic terrorism for over a decade. The attack coincided with the local elections.
Edward Kallon said, “I am outraged and horrified by the gruesome attack against civilians carried out by non-state armed groups in villages near Borno State capital Maiduguri,” “At least 110 civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in this attack.” Initial tolls indicated 43 and then at least 70 dead from Saturday’s massacre.
Some locals blamed the attack on Boko Haram fighters, but Bulama Bukarti, an analyst with the Tony Blair Institute, said the rival IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were more active in the area.
“ISWAP is the likely culprit,” he tweeted.
Kallon, in his statement, said: “The incident is the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year. “I call for the perpetrators of this heinous and senseless act to be brought to justice,” he added.
The massacre took place at village Koshobe near Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital. The terrorists targeted farm workers engaged in the harvesting of paddy. Islamic terrorists killed farm labourers by slitting their throats after tying them up to trees. Some motorbike-borne terrorists also targeted other communities in the surrounding areas.
“Rural communities in Borno State are facing untold hardships,” he added, calling for more to be done to protect them and to head off what he said was a looming food crisis there.
European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell tweeted, on Sunday, “he was deeply shocked by yet another horrific attack targeting innocent civilians” in the region.
“We have to continue our collective engagement against terror and violence to provide peace, security and stability for all people in Africa,” he wrote.
Borno Governor Babaganan Umara Zulum feared the death toll could rise after resuming search operation after attending the funeral of 43 persons of a nearby village Zabarmari on Saturday. The victims were mostly migratory labourers from Sokoto State in Northwestern Nigeria, located some 1000 km away from the killing field.
On Saturday’s attack, six were wounded and eight gone missing. Kallon also said that several women may have been kidnapped and appealed for their release.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack, saying: “The entire country has been wounded by these senseless killings.”
