UN Expresses Horror Over Mass Killing of Farmers in Borno
The United Nations has strongly condemned the deadly attacks carried out by suspected Boko Haram insurgents that resulted in the murder of 40 civilians in Dumba, a community in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, expressed his horror at the attacks, which targeted fishermen and farmers in the region. “I am horrified by the recent mass killing of fishermen and farmers in Kukawa. Several people remain missing following the attack, which occurred on January 12,” he said.
Fall emphasized that those responsible for these attacks must be held accountable, in accordance with both national and international human rights laws.
The attack, attributed to suspected terrorists from the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), killed dozens of farmers in the area. The UN Coordinator extended condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
“The armed actors who perpetrated these attacks must be identified and brought to account,” Fall said, describing the attack as a grim reminder of the ongoing dangers faced by civilians in the conflict-prone regions of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.
He also expressed concern over the increasing frequency of attacks against civilians in these areas in 2024. “In February 2024, Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) reportedly abducted hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ngala Local Government Area while they ventured outside the safety of trenches to gather firewood. In June, several civilians were killed and others injured in suicide bomb attacks in Gwoza LGA. In July, insurgents attacked farmers in the Firgi community of Gwoza LGA, killing IDPs and abducting women and girls,” Fall detailed.
Additionally, in September, more than 100 men and boys were killed in an attack on Mafa in Tarmuwa LGA, Yobe State. Other violent incidents were reported in Dikwa, Logomane, Ngala, and Pulka areas of Borno.
While reaffirming the UN’s commitment to supporting the affected communities, Fall urged for enhanced security measures to safeguard civilians in these conflict zones.
