Seven farmers were beheaded by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria, not far from Maiduguri, at a time when the state government is urging residents to return to their farms.
On June 15, the incident took place as the victims were working in their fields approximately five kilometres from Molai, a neighborhood outside of Maiduguri.
The state government had just a few days prior to the attack begun a drive to entice farmers to replant their fields after years of leaving them fallow due to the danger of violence.
The event was corroborated by Sainna Buba, a government representative who was organising the farmers’ journey to their farms with other security personnel.
“It was a sad occurrence and a setback to us,” he said. “We have just attended the funeral, and the corpses have been conveyed to the cemetery for burial.”
One of the farmers who managed to avoid the attack while running for his life from a hail of gunshots, reported it to Abudulmumeen Bulama, a local security guard of the Civilian-JTF vigilance group.
The murder of the seven farmers shocked the neighbourhood, and many people expressed their sorrow and concern for the security of the local farmers.
“We are not safe anymore; these attacks are becoming one too many, and the government needs to do something urgently,” said farmer Becky Koji.
On Tuesday, the Governor of Borno State released roughly 300 tractor trucks to help farmers in the region, kicking off a massive return-to-farm campaign.
The program aims to decrease reliance on food aid and increase food security in the area, both of which have been negatively impacted by the ongoing insurgency.
The beheading of the seven farmers by Boko Haram is the most recent of the terrorist organisation’s numerous attacks in the area. In the previous ten years, the gang has been accountable for the killings of thousands of people and the displacement of millions more.