Gunmen
By Tony Folarin Obajemu
At least no less than 40 farmers have been reportedly shot dead in the Dumba community in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, while the whereabouts of scores yet to be known following an attack by the terrorists believed to be members of Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province.
It was learnt that the assault which occured around 4:30 pm on Sunday also left dozens of farmers missing who may have been abducted by the militants.
Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof Usman Tar, confirmed the attack in a statement on Monday.
“Investigation has commenced on the circumstances behind this attack. Initial reports indicate about 40 farmers have been killed, while the whereabouts of many who escaped the attack are being traced for reunion with their families,” Tar disclosed.
This comes less than 24 hours after two people were killed and a church was set ablaze in a similar attack on the Chibok community, in the southern part of the state.
He noted that Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the attack in “strong terms,” even as the governor called on the military to track and clear the insurgent elements operating in Dumba and other similar enclaves around the Lake Chad area.
Sources said the victims were attacked by the terrorists after straying beyond the security line marked by the military around the communities to prevent residents from straying into Boko Haram or ISWAP enclaves.
The Kukawa area has suffered three devastating attacks by Boko Haram since 2014 when terrorist attacks escalated in Borno State.
In December 2019, Boko Haram sacked Baga, the headquarters of Kukawa Local Government and one of Borno’s commercial hubs, following a bloody attack that lasted two days.
Nearly a dozen military troops were captured and later executed in a gruesome manner. Thousands of residents fled their homes, marking the third massive displacement in the town since 2014.
In the statement, Zulum condemned the deadly attack on farmers and fishermen at Dumba.
He expressed sorrow over the incident while asking the military to track down the killers.
Tar said that initial reports indicated that the attackers killed about 40 people, and several others fled into nearby areas while efforts were underway to trace the survivors and reunite them with their families.
He said the governor called on the armed forces to pursue and neutralize the perpetrators operating in Dumba and other enclaves in the Lake Chad area.
He assured the public that the state government was committed to ensuring justice and enhancing security.
“With deep sorrow and anguish, I received the sad news of the attack on Dumba where scores of our farmers and fishermen were killed by terrorists.
“On behalf of the government, I sympathize with the victims’ families. Let me assure the citizens of Borno that this matter will be thoroughly investigated for necessary action,” he said.
He implored residents to adhere to the “safe corridors” demarcated by security agencies to avoid such risks.
“The government has clearly demarcated land for safe farming and economic activities allowing the military to focus on clearing unsafe areas. Citizens should not enter areas prone to terrorist attacks or contaminated by landmines,” he added.
“The safe corridors provide vast tracts of land for settlement, fishing, and farming under the watchful eyes of our gallant security forces.
“Straying into unsafe areas not only endangers lives but also complicates military operations against the terrorists,” the statement noted.
