Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have killed at least 50 farmers and fishermen in an attack on Malam Karanti village near Baga, located in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. The attack occurred on Thursday morning, with reports indicating that the terrorists gathered farmers and fishermen near the village and executed them. Most of the victims were bean farmers from Gwoza, who had allegedly paid levies to a rival Boko Haram faction to farm and fish in insurgent-held territories.
According to sources, the attackers stormed the village at about 9:00 a.m., rounding up the farmers and fishermen, and killing 23 of them on accusations of collaborating with the rival Boko Haram faction. An elderly man, who was spared, reportedly returned to the community to raise the alarm. Attempts by residents to recover the bodies were thwarted when the insurgents returned and fired on the search party, forcing them to retreat.
The incident highlights the ongoing violence and insecurity in the region, with civilians often caught in the crossfire of inter-factional rivalries. Governor Babagana Zulum has sympathized with the victims and urged residents to adhere to security guidelines while pursuing their livelihoods. Malam Karanti is known to be a volatile ISWAP enclave, where civilians often venture into the area in search of farmland and fishing opportunities despite the risks.
Some farmers had negotiated payment of levies to a faction of ISWAP, which was supposed to grant them access to farmlands near Daban Leda. However, another ISWAP group, unaware of the agreement, ambushed and killed the farmers. This incident is not the first time civilians have been caught in the crossfire of inter-factional rivalries, with dozens of farmers killed in similar incidents last year.
