Suspected Islamist militants killed 40 farmers in an attack on the Dumba community in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State on Sunday, according to a senior state official on Monday.
The militants are believed to be members of Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), groups that have been engaged in a violent insurgency in northeast Nigeria since 2009. The conflict has displaced millions and killed thousands, with Borno being at the center of the crisis.
Sunday’s attack comes amid an escalating food crisis in Borno, worsened by flooding in September and years of insecurity and displacement due to the insurgency.
Initial reports suggest the farmers ventured outside a security corridor set up by the military, entering an area known for insurgent activity and laden with landmines, according to Usman Tar, commissioner for information.
Security forces are searching for any farmers who may have escaped the attack, Tar added.
Borno Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the attack in a statement, urging the military to “track and deal decisively with the perpetrators.” He also called for an investigation into the attack and advised farmers and fishermen in the area to stay within the safe zones designated by the military.
Boko Haram and ISWAP have intensified attacks in Borno since the start of the year, including a failed ambush on a military patrol last week that resulted in the deaths of 34 militants and six soldiers.
