At least, 18 fishermen have been gruesomely killed and several others declared missing following a deadly attack by Boko Haram terrorists in Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, near the Nigeria–Niger Republic border.
Local sources confirmed the attack occurred on Sunday around 2:30 p.m. at the Fadana-Garuwa River in Duji Ward, where dozens of fishermen were ambushed while working along the riverbank.
Eyewitnesses revealed to newsmen that the insurgents arrived on motorcycles, heavily armed, and accused the fishermen of collaborating with rival fighters from the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
“They came in large numbers and overpowered us,” said Abu Mohammed, a survivor.
“They gathered our people and slaughtered all of them as punishment for conniving with the ISWAP faction.”
According to sources, the slain fishermen had been granted conditional access to fish in the river by ISWAP operatives, in exchange for regular tax payments.
Sunday’s massacre is believed to be a retaliatory attack by Boko Haram, which maintains control over parts of the riverine axis stretching into Niger Republic.
“The bodies of the 18 victims were recovered, but many more are still missing,” said Mustapha Babagana, a resident of the area.
“The villagers buried the dead on Tuesday in accordance with Islamic rites.”
The incident adds to the growing toll of violence in Nigeria’s northeast, where both Boko Haram and ISWAP have ramped up attacks on civilians and military targets in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States.
