By Gbenga Akingbule
At least 13 rice farmers were on Sunday evening killed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Karkut and Koshebe villages of the Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, while one person sustained serious injuries according to local security operatives.
Gatekeepers News reports that two of the thirteen farmers were beheaded and their severed heads placed on their backs in one of the horrific signatures of the terrorists, says one of the local security operatives who pleaded anonymity.
This is happening when most farmers are busy in farms across the state harvesting their farm produce; a situation that is currently worsening concerted efforts to ensure food production in a region that is considered as part of the poorest in the world.
Earlier on the same day, a renowned businessman – Kellum Alhaji Gana was also killed by the rampaging Boko Haram terrorists in another part of the state where he had gone to harvest beans to make food available for his family.
Police Spokesman in Borno state, Nahum Daso confirmed the killing of the rice farmers but did not give an official death toll.
“I can confirm the attack, investigation is ongoing and we will release a statement later,” Daso said.
Rice farmers had left their homes In Zabarmari- a renowned rice farming community in the state and made it to their farms in Karkut and Koshebe where over 40 farmers were killed by rampaging Boko Haram terrorists in 2020.
According to a security source who was part of the evacuation of bodies from the farms, the insurgents had had an exchange of gunshots with security operatives who had gone to the scene after some escapees ferried the unpleasant news to the community.
“We recovered one dead body and one injured farmer on Sunday night from karkut. There was an exchange of gunshots between us and the terrorists before they fled the scene.
“On Monday, we also mobilized and returned to Karkut where we recovered 9 dead bodies of rice farmers. Two of the bodies had the severed heads of the victims placed on their backs. We also recovered one corpse and two injured persons from nearby Koshebe villages, unfortunately, the two injured persons died while being conveyed to the nearest hospital.
“All the victims were buried on Monday in accordance with Islamic rites,” the security source said.
