KANO: At least 13 people, including three soldiers, were killed in two separate attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants in northeast Nigeria. The assaults, which occurred in the vicinity of the town of Konduga and the outskirts of Maiduguri, have further intensified the threat posed by the extremist group in the region.
In the early hours of Saturday, gunmen mounted an assault on a base located in the village of Wulari, near Konduga in Borno State. Operating under the cover of darkness and utilizing cornfields that were approaching harvest, the militants initiated the attack. Local militias working alongside the military swiftly engaged in a fierce confrontation with the assailants.
According to Ibrahim Liman, one of the militia leaders, “The Boko Haram terrorists used the cover of darkness and cornfields that are nearing harvest to launch the attack on the base.” The intense battle resulted in the loss of three soldiers, with the militants eventually being forced to withdraw.
A similar grim fate befell 10 farmers who were tragically rounded up and shot dead by suspected Boko Haram extremists while working in their fields in Maiwa, a village located just over three miles from Maiduguri. The victims, who bore gunshot wounds, fell prey to the ruthless violence perpetuated by the extremists.
Umar Ari, a militia leader, confirmed the harrowing incident, stating, “All the 10 farmers bore gunshot wounds.” The attackers also abducted four additional farmers, whose fate remains uncertain.
Boko Haram Attacks in Nigeria and Neighboring Countries
Boko Haram and its rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have increasingly targeted civilians engaged in various livelihood activities, accusing them of collaborating with the military and local militias. The violent campaign has taken a toll on industries such as logging, herding, farming, fishing, and scrap collection.
Recent weeks have witnessed a surge in Boko Haram’s attacks on farmers, compelling many to abstain from tending to their fields. With over 40,000 lives lost and approximately two million individuals displaced over the course of the 14-year-long conflict, the situation continues to raise grave concerns both within Nigeria and across its neighboring countries.
The conflict has spilled over into neighboring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, prompting a regional military coalition to confront the militant groups. The recent coup in Niger has further complicated the regional security landscape, as Islamist terror groups seek to exploit the instability. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved the deployment of a standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger.
