Again, Boko Haram terrorists have killed 17 fishermen in the Fadana-Garuwa River, located in Duji Ward of Mobbar local government area in faraway northern Borno.
The attack was launched on Sunday around 2 p.m., according to local sources.
The river, which straddles the border between Nigeria and Niger, lies just a few kilometers from Damasak, the headquarters of Mobbar.
Sources reported that approximately 30 armed militants arrived on motorcycles and targeted the fishermen while they were working along the river.
‘They gathered the fishermen and slaughtered all of them as punishment for allegedly siding with the Islamic State West Africa Province, faction,’ a local source revealed.
The fishermen were reportedly granted access to fish in the river by ISWAP militants, to whom they paid a form of tax.
However, members of the rival faction of Boko Haram—believed to be based across the river in Niger—allegedly carried out the attack in retaliation, opposing any allegiance to ISWAP.
‘This was meant to serve as a warning to others,’ the source added.
Villagers were able to recover the bodies of the 17 victims and conducted burial rites on Tuesday in accordance with Islamic tradition.
The incident comes amid a renewed escalation in attacks by both the ISWAP and BH factions on civilians and military targets.
Just last week, Nigeria’s federal and state ministers of defense, accompanied by service chiefs led by General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, visited Maiduguri to meet with Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Borno State Governor.
The discussions focused on the deteriorating security situation across the state.
