Terrorists Kill 29 Farmers, Children In Borno, Katsina

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have attacked Zabarmari rice farmers in Mafa local government area of Borno State and killed over 15 of them.

A rice farmer, who confirmed the incident yesterday to LEADERSHIP in Maiduguri, Awali Casa, said there was fear among the rest of farmers as they were still searching for the bodies of their members killed by the terrorists as well as those missing.

In Katsina State, 14 persons, mostly children, were killed by bandits during a Maulud celebration yesterday at Rugan Kusa community of Musawa local government area.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the terrorists stormed rice fields and attacked the farmers who were harvesting their crops in Koshebe, Karkut and Bulabulin in the  Mafa local government area, which is less than 20 kilometers from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Intelligent sources, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, said that the terrorists who were on motorcycles divide themselves into three groups before attacking the farmers.

The sources said that the attackers did not use their guns, instead they used cutlasses and knives to stab the victims in multiple parts of their bodies.

“So far, nine bodies were recovered as of Sunday night while the search for others who fled the attacks were still ongoing,” Makama said.

When LEADERSHIP visited the Katsina community yesterday, some residents said children from Yar Ungwa and Gidan Malame assembled at Rugan Kusa for the annual festival when they met their untimely deaths.

An eyewitness of the attack, who is the Islamic teacher of the event, Abdulaziz  Ibrahim, told our correspondent that the bandits invaded the town at about 10 pm yesterday, shooting sporadically at those celebrating the fest of the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday.

He said, “While the children were reciting the Quran, some people crossed my side and called my name, and within a short period I began to hear gunshots all over the town, I crawled to hid somewhere for a while.

“I later came out and saw people lying in cold blood, and we called the police to come for our rescue, for over one hour and 30 minutes, they didn’t show up while the bandits continued to have a fest in our town.

“They started operating house to house and abducted about eight women, killed about 15 people and wounded several people who are now receiving treatment in hospital.”

Meanwhile, Governor Umar Dikko Radda and the lawmaker representing Matazu /Musawa federal constituency, Abdullahi Aliyu Ahmed visited the affected communities and sympathised with the families over the deaths.

Addressing journalists at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina, the lawmaker, Aliyu Ahmed described the situation as terrible and unfortunate for the people who have no means of livelihood to be subjected to such a despicable act.

Responding to the number of persons affected, he said “Almost 13 people died, 19 people injured and more than 20 missing. And one person later died in the hospital here,” he added

The state police command in a statement issued by its spokesman, Sadiq Abubakar Aliyu, confirmed the attack, saying about nine people were killed from the attack.

“Upon receipt of the report, immediately, operatives were mobilised and swung into action, where they succeeded in repelling the attack. Seven people were shot dead, and 18 people sustained gunshot injuries as a result of the attack and were evacuated to General Hospital Musawa for immediate medical attention.

 “However, two of the injured were confirmed dead by the doctor while receiving treatment. The investigation is still ongoing. Efforts are on to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act. Further development will be communicated in due course,” he said.