Terrorists Kill Over 72 In Borno, Katsina In 72 Hours

 

At least 72 innocent persons have been killed by terrorists suspected to be members of Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa, ISAWP.

 

The tragic incident happened at Rann in Kala-Balge Local Government Area of Borno State and Jibia in Katsina State in the last 72 hours, according to Vanguard.

 

Among those killed in Borno on Sunday were over 60 farmers and scavengers, while 12 were killed at Gakurdi village in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, yesterday.

 

The Borno killings came as local hunters ambushed a hideout of terrorists in Wanori village of Konduga Local Government Area, also of Borno State, killing two of the terrorists, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.

 

The hunters also recovered 11 wheelbarrows used by the terrorists to loot foodstuffs owned by vilagers.

 

Kala Balge is a border town with Cameroon, with poor telecommunications network, which delayed  information on the latest massacre of farmers.

 

Sources said the insurgents, armed with sophisticated weapons, sneaked into the farms and started killing farmers one after the other.

 

“Over 50 people were buried in Rann on Monday. As at this morning (yesterday), more dead bodies had been found, the death toll is over 60 now,” said a farmer, Ali Isa, who escaped unhurt.

 

It would be recalled that Boko Haram had increasingly targeted farmers, herders and loggers, accusing them of spying and passing information to the military.

 

They have also been raiding herding communities, stealing cattle, a valuable commodity in the region, to fund their operations.

 

In 2020, the insurgents invaded a rice plantation in Zabarmari, a community in Jere Local Government Area, killing at least 43 farmers.

 

Vanguard  also gathered that among those killed were scavengers who left their internally displaced persons, IDPs, camps to scavenge outside the camps.

 

A source told Vanguard  that most of the victims had their hands tied behind their backs and executed by the terroists.

 

When contacted for confirmation, the Police Commissioner, Abdu Umar, said he was yet to get details on the incident, even as he promised to furnish the media after getting in touch with the Divisional Police Officer, DPO of Kala Balge.