Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly killed 15 farmers and firewood gatherers in an attack on communities in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
The victims were said to have been ambushed while working on their farmlands around Ala and Musune wards on Wednesday evening.
The attack was confirmed on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Command, Nahum Daso, who disclosed that three other persons remained missing.
“Yes, there was an attack in Marte. 15 people were killed while others are still missing. Efforts are ongoing to determine their whereabouts,” Daso told PUNCH Online.
The police spokesperson said details of the incident were still being gathered, promising that further information would be made available to the public when the investigation progresses.
Local sources disclosed that the victims comprised peasant farmers and firewood collectors, including young and elderly men.
One of the sources, who requested anonymity, said the victims were seized and executed by the attackers while going about their daily activities.
The source alleged that the victims were tied up, forced to lie face down and shot at close range.
He further claimed that some of the bodies were mutilated, making identification difficult.
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“Many people were killed. Some were not even recognisable. So far, we have buried 15 out of the 18; we are currently searching for three persons,” the source said.
Community members reportedly recovered the bodies from the scene and conducted their burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
Meanwhile, international human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has condemned the killings, describing the incident as a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
In a statement on Friday, the organisation said the victims were residents who had gone into the surrounding bush to gather firewood for their livelihoods and domestic needs before they were attacked.
Amnesty International called on the Nigerian government to take immediate and transparent steps, consistent with human rights standards, to protect vulnerable communities in the region.
The latest incident adds to the security challenges confronting residents of Borno State, particularly communities exposed to attacks by suspected insurgents.