In the Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, roving Boko Haram militants have killed 10 farmers and kidnapped a number of others.
Along with this incident, which happened late on a Saturday in the fields between Bulakunkumma and Maiwa villages in the Baram Karowa ward of the LGA, the terrorists also demanded N4 million in ransom from a trader in the Zannari ward.
Four people were kidnapped, according to a reliable source, Ya Kalu Bukar, who confirmed the attack to reporters, but up to nine people, according to Goni Mohammed.
Bukar informed reporters over the phone that the group of people “came roving across farms in search of food and money.” “They killed 10 of the farmers, all men, and took four with them when the farmers said they couldn’t afford the amounts they asked for.”
He claimed the insurgents murdered the 10 farmers and kidnapped the remaining four to prevent anyone from reporting their actions to the security officers so they could immediately begin a manhunt for them.
Nevertheless, Mohammed, the second source, claimed that “the insurgents abducted nine farmers when they told them that they didn’t have any cash to give.”
Sani Shatambaya, the spokeswoman for the Borno State Police Command, could not be reached by phone to comment on the incidents.
Babagana Zulum, the governor of Borno State, recently issued a warning to farmers in rural areas not to stay on their farms until 5 o’clock because that is when insurgents typically start prowling the neighborhood in search of victims.
To ensure that no farmer was still in the fields by 5 o’clock, he had ordered the troops guarding the villages and the agro-rangers to safeguard farmers there.