Suspected terrorists, believed to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect have killed more than 40 people in Zabarmari area of Jere Local government, Borno, Northeast Nigeria.
According to local reports, the people killed were farmers working on a rice field in Kwashebe village of the community.
They had come from Sokoto, Northwest Nigeria to Borno State to earn a living and had been working on the fields before they were murdered.
Nasiru Usman, one of the farmers who escaped the onslaught, said it started when a suspected Boko Haram terrorist was held by the farmers.
Unknown to the rice farmers, he was accompanied by other members of the sect, and they soon rounded them up before killing them.
“Unfortunately, he was accompanied by dozens of other militants who were hiding around the bush,” he said.
“So immediately they tied him and seized his guns, his other colleagues quickly stormed the scene, and opened fire on the farmers, while they took to their heels.
“At exactly 11am, the group declared a blanket killing against all the farmers harvesting their products. They began by abducting seven, then went on rampage and began killing every one in sight.
“So far, we have recovered upto 45 bodies. The civilian JTF, police and Military are still searching for more bodies. We won’t know how many are missing so far for now since more bodies are still being found.”
The Nigerian government in its reaction on Saturday, condemned the “senseless” killings as citizens call for a complete change in the nation’s security architecture.
The Nigerian Presidency has reacted to the sad news. Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari quoted the President as saying; “I condemn the killing of our hardworking farmers by terrorists in Borno State. The entire country is hurt by these senseless killings. My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls Rest In Peace.”
Nigeria has been dealing with a security crisis for more than a decade now with terrorism, kidnapping and banditry holding sway in Northeastern and Northwestern parts of the country.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced since security upheavals began in the country.