Seven innocent civilian youths were shot dead by Nigerian troops who suspected them of being members of the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), better known as Boko Haram.

RNI reporter Mustapha Abubakar said a group of people were catching grasshoppers in the bush in Titi village in the Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State on Thursday evening, November 10.  Suddenly troops started firing at them, killing the seven youths.

Bulama Modu, a resident, said: “The troops fired at the youths killing all seven. They were taken to hospital but they actually died instantly in the bush. They were catching grasshoppers in the bush not too far from the village. We heard the gunshots, which proves they had not gone far. Among the group were people from other villages, not just Titi.”

Modu said catching grasshoppers was a common business practice in the area. Many people caught grasshoppers and then sold them to traders and to others in the village.

“The troops were on patrol when they came across the villagers who were wearing headlamps and looking for grasshoppers. The soldiers thought they were members of Boko Haram.”

Modu said no action had been taken against the soldiers but the villagers had asked authorities to enlighten the military about their activities, so that no other innocent people would be killed or harmed.

“The shot youths were taken to hospital but they were already dead. It is a huge calamity. We hope it will never happen again.”

AISHA SD JAMAL