Residents of Damboa town in Borno State say they are shocked because they have never heard of insurgents drowning their victims.
Unknown gunmen, thought to be members of Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), have killed a lone farmer who was returning from his lands in Borno State’s Damboa district – but, for the first time, the insurgents did not shoot him, instead they dragged him into a river and drowned him.
Residents are still reeling from shock, saying this is the first time they have ever heard of anyone being killed by insurgents in this manner.
Modu Bukar, an uncle of the farmer, said his nephew, Ibrahim Bukar, was an internally displaced person.
He told RNI that the gunmen attacked his nephew when he was returning from his farmlands on Wednesday, October 4. The gunmen caught him, emptied out his pockets, taking his phone and money, and then dragged him into the Hausari River on the outskirts of Damboa town and drowned him.
They stole his bicycle and hoe and ran away.
His corpse was found in the river on Thursday.
Modu Bukar said that his nephew left a wife and five children, three girls and two little boys, all of whom he was now caring for.
“We think the gunmen are members of Boko Haram [JAS] but they could be common criminals or enemies of my nephew. No one has ever heard of anyone being drowned by insurgents before. This is the first time. The military, police and other security operatives are investigating to try to find the perpetrators and to establish if they are insurgents.”
Mohammed Bukar, a resident of Damboa town, said that the level of insecurity in the town was getting worse with each passing day.
“Attacks by insurgents are increasing, more people are losing their lives and many have been abducted. We need more protection. The federal and Borno State governments need to beef up security and provide adequate weapons, ammunition and patrol vehicles for soldiers and other operatives.”
On Sunday last week two Fulani traders from neighbouring communities were killed by JAS insurgents in Azir which is about 10km from Damboa town. And on Monday a top civilian joint task force member was killed when insurgents invaded his home in Damboa.
SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO
