Borno: How Boko Haram Killed 90 Farmers In Five Months

Zulum

At least 90 farmers and fishermen have been killed in two separate attacks by armed groups in the Lake Chad area of Borno State in the last five months.

Fighters from the Boko Haram group and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) were suspected to have carried out the attacks.Local and security sources confirmed that the attacks happened between January and May 2025, leaving many victims wounded and abducted by the terrorists.In the latest attack on 15th May, 2025, ISWAP terrorists struck a bean field at Malam Karanti in Kukawa LGA, where they killed at least 50 farmers.

Our correspondent gathered that hundreds of farmers were working on the field when the incident happened on Thursday.

According to sources, rival Boko Haram fighters ambushed the farmers in the ISWAP-controlled areas, about 9 kilometres from Baga town.

One of the local sources said the farmers and fishermen had enjoyed months of protection from an ISWAP commander in charge of the location before the incident happened.

“They have papers of the commander in charge of Malam Karanti up to Dawashi, his name is Amir Akilu. They enjoyed his protection for months in exchange for a levy before the latest incident,” he said.

He said the Boko Haram fighters took advantage of the commanders’ absence and attacked the fighters accusing them of spying and siding with their enemies.

One of the survivors of the ambush said the Boko Haram terrorists surrounded them and threatened to shoot anybody that attempted to escape.

“In fact, some of us had started harvesting the beans when the assailants struck. They gathered us in one place and threatened to kill anyone that attempted to escape, but chose to run rather than die miserably in their hands.

“I want to assure you that they killed over 50 people and the majority of them were slaughtered. They also abducted some.