At least 110 people have been killed in an attack on a village in northeastern Nigeria blamed on the Boko Haram jihadist group, according to the country’s humanitarian coordinator in the country.
“At least 110 civilians were brutally killed and many more were injured in the attack,” Edward Calloway said in a statement.
“This incident is the most violent direct attack on innocent civilians this year,” Calloway said. “I call for the perpetrators of this heinous and unconscious act to be brought to justice.”
The attack took place in Koshobe village near Maiduguri town, while the attackers targeted farmers on rice fields. The governor of Borno state, Umra Zulam of Babag, attended the funeral of 43 bodies found on Saturday in the nearby village of Zabarmari on Sunday, and said the toll could rise once search operations resume.
According to the anti-government jihadist army, the attackers tied the agricultural workers and cut their throats. The victims were laborers from the state of Sokoto in northwestern Nigeria, about 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) away, who had traveled north-east to find work. Six others were injured in the attack and eight were missing until Saturday.
Callen cited “reports that several women had been abducted,” and called for their immediate release and return to safety.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack, saying: “The whole country has been wounded by this senseless killing.”
The attack came as voters went to the polls in the long-delayed local elections in the state of Borno. Voting was repeatedly postponed due to an increase in attacks by Boko Haram and rival dissident group, ISWAP.
Both groups have been blamed for increasing attacks on loggers, farmers and fishermen, whom they accuse of spying for the military and pro-government forces.
