At least 40 farmers were reportedly killed in the Dumba community, located in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, during a brutal attack by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) militants. Several other farmers are still missing, with fears that they may have been abducted by the terrorists. The attack occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, leaving the community in mourning and residents in shock.
Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, confirmed the tragic incident on Monday, stating that investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the attack. Initial reports suggest that 40 people have been killed, while efforts are being made to locate and reunite the missing farmers with their families.
This devastating incident follows a similar attack in the Chibok community just a day before, where two people were killed and a church was set ablaze. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno strongly condemned the violence, urging the military to swiftly locate and neutralize the insurgents responsible for the attacks in Dumba and other enclaves around the Lake Chad region.
Sources close to the situation revealed that the farmers were targeted after straying beyond a designated security track established by the military to protect residents from venturing into areas still controlled by Boko Haram or ISWAP. This marks the latest in a series of deadly attacks in the Kukawa area, which has been plagued by insurgent violence since 2014.
In 2019, Boko Haram launched a devastating assault on Baga, the commercial hub of Kukawa Local Government, killing several military personnel and forcing thousands of residents to flee. The area has since been a hotbed of insurgent activity, and the recent attack on Dumba has further heightened concerns about the safety of local communities.
Governor Zulum expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives in Dumba, offering his condolences to the victims’ families and pledging that the attack would be thoroughly investigated. He also urged residents to adhere to the military’s guidelines regarding safe zones, stressing that straying into unprotected areas increases the risk of such attacks.
“The government has demarcated specific safe corridors for farming and other economic activities. It is crucial that citizens remain within these areas to avoid placing themselves in danger,” the governor said. He also commended the armed forces for their ongoing efforts to secure regions for resettlement and economic activity.
Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, addressed the recent spate of accidental civilian casualties during military airstrikes, stating that the military follows strict protocols and uses precision in its operations. However, he acknowledged that secondary explosions in insurgent-controlled areas could unintentionally affect civilians.
Gen. Musa suggested that some allegations of accidental killings might be used to undermine the morale of the military during key operations. He also revealed that the military is working with international partners to trace and disrupt the funding networks that sustain terrorist activities in the region, highlighting the importance of cutting off financial resources for these groups.
In a related development, the House of Representatives Committee on Army assured the Nigerian Army of continued financial support to tackle the nation’s security challenges, including those posed by terrorism. The committee expressed satisfaction with the Army’s performance in implementing the 2024 budget and emphasized its commitment to bolstering military capacity and troop welfare.
As security forces continue their efforts to contain the insurgent threat, the people of Borno remain resilient, though deeply affected by the growing violence in the region. The government and military have vowed to intensify efforts to restore peace and security to the troubled state.
