Farm workers attacked in Nigeria; 110 dead
Jihadists blamed for ‘deadliest raid of civilians this year’
MAIDUGURI (AFP) – At least 110 people were killed in a weekend attack on farm workers in northeast Nigeria blamed on jihadists, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator in the country said on Sunday, making it the deadliest raid on civilians this year.
The attack, in a state gripped by a jihadist insurgency for more than 10 years, took place the same day as long-delayed local elections in the state.
“I am outraged and horrified by the gruesome attack against civilians carried out by non-state armed groups in villages near Borno State capital Maiduguri,” Edward Kallon said in a statement.
“At least 110 civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in this attack,” Kallon added.
Initial tolls indicated 43 and then at least 70 dead from the massacre last Saturday.
Some locals blamed the attack on Boko Haram fighters, but Bulama Bukarti, an analyst with the Tony Blair Institute, said the rival Islamic State-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were more active in the area.
“ISWAP is the likely culprit,” Bukarti tweeted.
In his statement, Kallon said: “The incident is the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year. I call for the perpetrators of this heinous and senseless act to be brought to justice.”
The violence centered on the village of Koshobe near the Borno state capital Maiduguri, with assailants targeting farm workers harvesting rice fields. One pro-government anti-jihadist militia said the assailants tied up the laborers and slit their throats.
Kallon said the assailants – “armed men on motorcycles” – also targeted other communities in the area.
“Rural communities in Borno State are facing untold hardships,” he added, calling for more to be done to protect them and to head off what he said was a looming food crisis there.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted his reaction on Sunday, saying he was “deeply shocked by yet another horrific attack targeting innocent civilians” in the region.
“We have to continue our collective engagement against terror and violence to provide peace, security and stability for all people in Africa,” Borrell wrote.
Borno Gov. Babaganan Umara Zulum attended the burial on Sunday in the nearby village of Zabarmari of 43 bodies recovered last Saturday, saying the toll could rise after search operations resumed.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack on Saturday, saying, “The entire country has been wounded by these senseless killings.”