Ø Says Buhari worst leader in Nigeria’s history
Ø Attack claimed at least 110 lives – UN
Ø 43 slaughtered farmers buried amid tears, wailing
Ø 10 women still missing, says Amnesty
Following the killing of 43 farmers in Borno State by Boko Haram, Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), has called on northerners to defend themselves against the Boko Haram insurgents and bandits henceforth, saying President Muhammadu Buhari and northern governors have lost control over the region.
The farmers were killed on Saturday in Zabarmari, Gere Local Government Area of the State, while scores of fishermen were injured.
Reacting to the incident in a statement by its spokesman, AbdulAzeez Suleiman, the CNG said government and federal troops can no longer be relied upon to protect northern communities.
The Coalition described the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as the worst in Nigeria’s history.
The United Nations (UN) humanitarian coordinator in the country, in its own account said yesterday, said the weekend attack left at least 110 dead. Its official, Edward Kallon stated this in a statement, after initial tolls indicated 43 and then at least 70 dead from Saturday’s massacre by the suspected fighters.
According to him, six were wounded in the attack and eight remained missing as of Saturday, citing “reports that several women may have been kidnapped”, and called for their immediate release and return to safety.
Amnesty International has also said 10 women at the rice plantation during the attack are still missing. A statement by the international human rights organisation yesterday said its findings had shown that of the 43 farmers killed by Boko Haram on Saturday, 16 were Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) living in the Farm Centre IDP Camp, while 10 women working in Kwashabe Rice Farm were still missing after the attack.
It lamented that Boko Haram had consistently and deliberately targeted civilians in and across Borno state, urging the group to end its campaign of vicious and unlawful killings of civilians.
The attack took place as voters went to the polls in long-delayed local elections in Borno State.
The State governor, Babagana Umara Zulum yesterday attended the burial of 43 recovered bodies in the nearby village of Zabarmari along with other residents, all of whom were still in shock, saying the toll could rise after search operations resumed.
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the attack, saying, “The entire country has been wounded by these senseless killings”.
Meanwhile, many Nigerians have renewed call for the sack of service chiefs following Boko Haram’s slaughtering of 43 farmers as many took to Twitter to express their anger and the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the service chiefs, with the majority demanding that he must sack them and get competent ones to secure the nation.
