Boko Haram Slaughters 17 Farmers and Fishermen in Borno for Alleged Support of ISWAP
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In a deadly attack on Thursday, Boko Haram militants killed more than 17 farmers and fishermen in Malam Karanti village, near Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, reportedly for backing their rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
According to local sources, several individuals were also abducted during the assault, and the number of casualties is expected to rise as search efforts continue.
“So far, 17 bodies have been found and the search for more is ongoing,” said Babakura Kolo, a leader in a local anti-jihadist militia. He explained that Boko Haram suspects that many people living around Lake Chad sympathize with ISWAP, which, despite also carrying out violent attacks, is perceived as slightly more tolerant by local communities.
Since 2009, northeastern Nigeria has been gripped by a brutal jihadist insurgency that has claimed around 40,000 lives and displaced over two million people. Boko Haram and ISWAP, once a single group, have been embroiled in bitter rivalry since their split in 2016, sparked by deep ideological divides.
Kolo noted that Boko Haram is increasingly anxious about ISWAP regaining ground, particularly around Lake Chad, an area they currently dominate.
Umar Ari, another member of the anti-jihadist militia, said the attackers ambushed the victims while they were fishing and working on their farms around 2 p.m. Thursday.
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Meanwhile, ISWAP also launched an attack in the early hours of Friday, storming a military base in Wulgo—a town that hosts both Nigerian and Cameroonian troops—and killing five soldiers in a coordinated raid.
Both Boko Haram and ISWAP have stepped up assaults on civilians in recent months, targeting people engaged in farming, fishing, logging, herding, and scrap collection. The groups often accuse civilians of collaborating with the military or vigilante forces.
Earlier in January, ISWAP was blamed for killing at least 40 farmers in Dumba, a lakeside community, after accusing them of farming without authorization. An intelligence report cited by AFP suggested the actual death toll could be over 100.
Just last month, Boko Haram reportedly killed 14 farmers in farmlands near Pulka, a border town in Borno State, further highlighting the growing insecurity in the region.
