Jihadists have killed at least 40 farmers in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state in the latest violence to hit the conflict-wrought region, a government official said yesterday.
Fighters from the Islamic State-aligned Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) late Sunday rounded up scores of farmers in Dumba on the shores of Lake Chad and shot them dead, Usman Tar, Borno state information commissioner said in a statement.
"Initial report indicates about 40 farmers have been killed while the whereabouts of many who escaped the attack are being traced for reunion with their families," Tar said.
The state government has ordered troops fighting jihadists in the region "to track and obliterate the insurgent elements" operating around Dumba and their enclaves in the wider Lake Chad area, Tar said.
The farmers "strayed off" the safe limit set by troops for farming and fishing in the area that is a sanctuary for militants from ISWAP and its Boko Haram rival, dotted with landmines and "prone to nocturnal attacks", the commissioner said.
Lake Chad, which straddles Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad, serves as a hideout for Boko Haram and ISWAP who use it as a base from which to launch attacks into the countries.
According to a Nigerian intelligence report seen by AFP, "casualties could be over 100 persons killed in the attack" which it blamed on ISWAP fighters.
The farmers came from the region of Gwoza on the border with Cameroon to cultivate cowpea and onions on the shores of the freshwater lake, according to an anti-jihadist militia.
Fighters from the Islamic State-aligned Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) late Sunday rounded up scores of farmers in Dumba on the shores of Lake Chad and shot them dead, Usman Tar, Borno state information commissioner said in a statement.
"Initial report indicates about 40 farmers have been killed while the whereabouts of many who escaped the attack are being traced for reunion with their families," Tar said.
The state government has ordered troops fighting jihadists in the region "to track and obliterate the insurgent elements" operating around Dumba and their enclaves in the wider Lake Chad area, Tar said.
The farmers "strayed off" the safe limit set by troops for farming and fishing in the area that is a sanctuary for militants from ISWAP and its Boko Haram rival, dotted with landmines and "prone to nocturnal attacks", the commissioner said.
Lake Chad, which straddles Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad, serves as a hideout for Boko Haram and ISWAP who use it as a base from which to launch attacks into the countries.
According to a Nigerian intelligence report seen by AFP, "casualties could be over 100 persons killed in the attack" which it blamed on ISWAP fighters.
The farmers came from the region of Gwoza on the border with Cameroon to cultivate cowpea and onions on the shores of the freshwater lake, according to an anti-jihadist militia.