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At least 110 civilians have died in cold blood in Nigeria while working in their fields, according to a new United Nations report. This attack is the bloodiest attack against civilians this year in northwestern Nigeria, affected by a jihadist insurgency of more than 10 years, reports AFP.
The massacre took place on the day of local elections in the state, the first since the beginning of the Boko Haram uprising in 2009. Since then, more than 36,000 people have been killed and more than two million have been forced to flee their homes. homes.
“On November 28, in the early afternoon, gunmen arrived on motorcycles and brutally attacked men and women working in the fields in Koshobe,” said the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon. “At least 110 civilians were cruelly killed and many others injured in the attack,” he added, calling it “the most violent attack against innocent civilians this year.”
The UN statement did not mention the jihadist group Boko Haram, or the dissident faction of the Islamic State in West Africa (Iswap), which has increased its violence in the region and controls part of Nigerian territory.
The attack took place in a rice field located less than 10 km from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, the epicenter of the Islamist insurgency. Last month, 22 farmers had already died in their fields, not far from this city.
Jihadists often attack farmers, fishermen and loggers, who accuse them of transmitting information to the army or of failing to pay the jihadist “tax”, which is required for economic activities in some areas of Borno.
“It is undoubtedly the firm of Boko Hara, which operates in the region and frequently attacks farmers,” said a representative of a pro-government self-defense group, who indicated that 43 victims had their throats slit.
The first 43 victims were buried on Sunday in the neighboring town of Zabarmari, in the presence of the Governor of Borno state, Babaganan Umara Zulum, while the search for other victims continued in these swampy waters and where access is difficult.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari “condemned” on Saturday night “the killing of these dedicated farmers by terrorists,” in a statement. “The whole country is hurt by these senseless killings,” he added.
The attack occurred on the day of the election of regional representatives and councilors in 27 electoral districts in Borno state, an election postponed since 2008 for security reasons.
