At least 40 farmers have been killed in an attack on the Kukawa district of Borno state – residents say there are dozens of people missing, feared killed or abducted by insurgents.

At least 40 farmers have been killed in an insurgent attack on the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State in Nigeria’s northeast.

Survivors said the attack began at about 11am on Sunday, January 12, in a farming community within the Doron Baga ward.

Dozens of farmers are missing. Witnesses said everyone ran for safety when they heard gunshots: “They could still be hiding in the bushes or they might have been abducted. Insurgents could have killed them.”

The affected farmers are from villages surrounding the Doron Baga communities, including Tumbul Leda, Dapchari, Yobe, Dumba and Kwatan Turare. Most are migrants from Kebbi, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, Monguno, Hadeja and Gwoza.

A resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said the insurgents – thought to be members of the the Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), more commonly referred to as Boko Haram – initially assured the farmers that they would not be harmed and encouraged them to continue their farming activities.

“After at first reassuring them, the insurgents lined up the farmers in rows of 10 in the Tumbul Leda area, separating the elderly, youths and women.

“All those killed were young men. The death toll has now reached at least 42, but I believe the number might be higher as the figures are yet to be fully compiled,” the resident said.

He said the attack took place far from areas where security operatives are stationed, allowing the insurgents to carry out the killings until about 4pm.

Survivors of the attack alerted residents in safer locations. Security operatives still had not arrived at the scene at the time of reporting.

“No insurgents were captured during or after the attack,” the resident said.

“This is the first time such an incident has occurred here. We have never had an attack like this. The farmers were busy tending to their crops. They grow beans to sell and for their families to eat. It is their only means of making a living.”

Babagana Umara Zulum, the governor of Borno State, strongly condemned the attack and called on the officers and men of Operation Hadin Kai “to track and obliterate insurgent elements operating in Doron Baga ward and other enclaves within the Lake Chad region”.

Zulum expressed his sincere condolences to the victims’ families and assured the public that efforts would be made to locate and reunite the missing individuals with their loved ones.

“With deep sorrow and anguish, I received the sad news of the attack on Dumba where scores of our farmers and fishermen were killed by the terrorists. On behalf of the government, I sympathise with the victims’ families.

“Let me assure the citizens of Borno that this matter will be thoroughly investigated for further necessary action. Let me use this opportunity to call on the armed forces to track and deal decisively with the perpetrators of this heinous act of violence against our innocent citizens.”

He urged residents to report any suspicious movements near their settlements or farmlands for prompt action by security operatives.

Zulum said it had been observed that farmers had strayed off the safe corridor established by the security agencies and they had gone into an enclave that was yet to be cleared.

“Such enclaves are usually prone to nocturnal attacks by marauding terrorists, as well as being contaminated with landmines.”

He called on residents not to venture beyond the safety zones that had been demarcated by the government and security agencies.

“The government has clearly demarcated the land for safe farming and economic activities, allowing the military to focus on clearing the unsafe areas where security clearance and combat operations can be conducted.

“It is important for our citizens not to go into areas where there may be exchange of fire, or where the terrorists may be lurking and trespassing.”

In a statement released on Monday, January 13, Usman Tar, the Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, said the Borno State government commended the armed forces for their consistent efforts in ensuring that vast tracks of land had been cleared for human resettlement and agriculture, consistent with the governor’s sustainable solutions to managing internal displacement in Borno State.

“The Borno government calls on farmers, fishermen and local communities to settle and carry out their legitimate activities within the safe corridors demarcated by the armed forces.

“The safe corridors consist of vast tracks of land that have been cleared and decontaminated of explosives, where settlement, fishing and farming can be safely carried out under the dutiful watch of our gallant security forces,” Usman said.

“It is dangerous to stray away from the demarcated safe corridors.”

Usman said that by keeping in the safe zones, residents were “enabling security forces to concentrate in safeguarding lives while continuing to engage the terrorists without fear of the citizens being used as human shields by the terrorists”.

RUKAIYA AHMED ALIBE