Nigeria: Boko Haram Fighters Gun Down Farmers in Borno

In Borno State, Nigeria, suspected Boko Haram insurgents ambushed and killed 15 farmers while abducting three others in the Marte Local Government Area on Wednesday. The attack occurred across the Ala, Gumna, and Musune wards near the area council headquarters. Initial reports reached the community on Wednesday evening, but the recovery of bodies was delayed until Thursday morning.

Five bodies were initially found, with others discovered later. Three individuals remain missing, suspected to have been abducted by the insurgents. Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nahum Daso, confirmed the 15 deaths and stated that authorities were actively investigating the incident. A grieving relative described the execution-style killings, detailing how the victims were forced to lie down and shot in the head at close range.

Local community members worked to recover and bury the bodies according to Islamic rites. Amnesty International condemned the violence as a horrific violation of international humanitarian law, emphasizing that targeting civilians constitutes a war crime. The organization urged Nigerian authorities to protect vulnerable communities in the region.