At least, 18 fishermen have been gruesomely killed and
several others declared missing following a deadly attack by Boko Haram
terrorists in Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, near the Nigeria–Niger
Republic border.
Local sources confirmed the attack occurred on Sunday around
2:30 p.m. at the Fadana-Garuwa River in Duji Ward, where dozens of fishermen
were ambushed while working along the riverbank.
Eyewitnesses revealed to newsmen that the insurgents arrived
on motorcycles, heavily armed, and accused the fishermen of collaborating with
rival fighters from the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
“They came in large numbers and overpowered us,” said Abu
Mohammed, a survivor. “They gathered our people and slaughtered all of them as
punishment for conniving with the ISWAP faction.”
According to sources, the slain fishermen had been granted
conditional access to fish in the river by ISWAP operatives, in exchange for
regular tax payments. Sunday’s massacre is believed to be a retaliatory attack
by Boko Haram, which maintains control over parts of the riverine axis
stretching into Niger Republic.
“The bodies of the 18 victims were recovered, but many more
are still missing,” said Mustapha Babagana, a resident of the area. “The
villagers buried the dead on Tuesday in accordance with Islamic rites.”
The incident adds to the growing toll of violence in
Nigeria’s northeast, where both Boko Haram and ISWAP have ramped up attacks on
civilians and military targets in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States.
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