Borno Gov Issues Advisory To Residents After Terrorists Killed 40 Farmers

The Borno Government has condemned the recent killing of no fewer than 40 farmers in the state.

The attack occurred on Sunday in the Dumba community, Kukawa area of the state. Dumba is known for its watering hole where herds of cattle drink water.

A statement by the Borno Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, noted that an immediate investigation has commenced on the circumstances behind the attack.

The statement quoted the governor as calling on the Nigerian Army to eliminate the insurgents operating at Dumba and other similar enclaves in the Lake Chad Area.

Governor Zulum also commiserated with the victims and their families, while assuring that those still missing will be found and reunited with the families.

“With deep sorrow and anguish, I received the sad news of the attack on Dumba where scores of our farmers and fishermen were killed by the terrorists. On behalf of the government, I sympathise with the victims’ families.

“Let me assure the citizens of Borno that this matter will be thoroughly investigated for further necessary action. Let me use this opportunity to call on the armed forces to track and deal decisively with the perpetrators of this heinous act of violence against our innocent citizens”, Zulum said.

The government revealed that the farmers strayed off the security corridor established by the security agencies, and went into an enclave that is yet to be cleared.

Such enclaves, according to the state are usually prone to nocturnal attacks by marauding terrorists, as well as being contaminated with landmines.

Zulum called on citizens not to go beyond the safe zones that are demarcated by the government and security agencies

Governor Zulum highlighted that “the Government has demarcated the land for safe farming and economic activities, allowing the military to focus on clearing the unsafe areas where security clearance and combat operations could be conducted.

“It is important for our citizens not to go into areas where there may be exchange of fires, or where the terrorists may be lurking and trespassing.”

The government asked that farmers stay within the safe corridors consisting of vast tracks of land that were cleared and decontaminated with explosives, where settlement, fishing, and farming could be safely carried out under the watch of security forces.

“It is dangerous to stray away from the demarcated safe corridors in order to enable the security forces to concentrate on safeguarding lives while continuing to engage the terrorists without fear of the citizens being used as human shields by the terrorists.

“The Government also calls on citizens to report any sighting of strange movements within or near their settlements and farmlands for speedy action,” the statement said.