Suspected members of the Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP) have killed six operatives in the Dalori Gari community, Konduga local government area of Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. The incident occurred on Monday, August 18, 2025, in the morning when the security operatives were escorting farmers to their fields.

Four security operatives killed instantly

“The victims include one Civilian Joint Task Force member, a hunter, a soldier, and a mobile police officer. The attackers also abducted two CJTF members,” the local security operative said. The victims were escorting farmers when the attack occurred.

Rescue mission failed

“We did our best to rescue the two CJTF members alive, but we couldn’t,” the operative said. On Sunday, August 24, the abductors informed the security operatives through a phone call that the two abducted CJTF members had been killed and that they could come and pick up the bodies.

Call for government support 

The CJTF member acknowledged that despite the limited operational equipment, the security operatives are doing their best to keep the communities safe. “We lack sophisticated weapons and patrol vehicles to take on the insurgents,” he said. “We are struggling to keep our communities safe. I urge the government to provide us with the necessary support.”

Farmers are afraid to go to their farms due to fear of another attack. “The town is secured,” the CJTF member said, “but the farms are not safe, and many of them have abandoned their fields due to fear of attacks.”

Farms abandonned, threat to food security

A smallholder farmer abandoned his farm for nearly two weeks due to fear of attacks. He said many farmers in the community cannot access their farms, which is a threat to food security. “We are calling on the government and the security operatives to secure our farmlands from attacks so that we can access them and grow food to eat and feed our families,” the farmer said. “If we don’t farm, we can’t feed our families.”

Support security operatives with credible information.

However, a community leader urged farmers to always support the security operatives with credible information to keep the community safe. The community leaders are collaborating with the security forces to ensure that their farms are secured for them to cultivate their harvest, he said.