At least 15 farmers and firewood gatherers have been killed in an attack in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, with three other people still missing.
The victims were reportedly attacked while carrying out farming and firewood-gathering activities around Ala and Musune wards on Wednesday evening.
The Borno State Police Command confirmed the incident on Friday but said details remained sketchy as investigation continued.
“Yes, there was an attack in Marte. 15 people were killed while others are still missing. Efforts are ongoing to determine their whereabouts,” the command’s spokesperson, Nahum Daso, said.
Daso said the police would provide further information after completing data gathering.
Local sources said 18 people had gone to the affected farmlands, but only 15 bodies were recovered and buried by Thursday, leaving three people unaccounted for.
The Victims….. Credit:Isah Ojo
The sources described the victims as peasant farmers and firewood gatherers, including young men, married men and elderly residents.
One source said the victims were ambushed while carrying out their daily activities.
The source also alleged that some of the victims were decapitated, although the police did not independently confirm the claim.
“Many people were killed. Some were not even recognisable. So far, we have buried 15 out of the 18; we are currently searching for three persons,” the source said.
Another source said community members recovered the bodies from the farmland and buried them according to Islamic rites.
The attack has drawn condemnation from Amnesty International, which described the killings as a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
The human rights organisation called on Nigerian authorities to take immediate measures to protect vulnerable communities living in the region.
Marte is one of the areas in Borno that has experienced prolonged insecurity linked to the Boko Haram insurgency and other armed groups.
The latest attack again underscores the danger faced by rural residents who depend on farms and surrounding bush areas for their livelihoods.
Farmers and other civilians in parts of Borno have previously been targeted by insurgents. In 2023, 15 farmers were reported killed in an attack on farmlands in Mafa Local Government Area, with other residents initially reported missing.
For the latest incident, authorities have not publicly established the specific group responsible beyond describing the attackers as suspected terrorists.
The police said efforts were continuing to locate the three missing people and determine the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
