At least 23 farmers and fishermen were brutally killed on Thursday morning by suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Malam Karanti, a remote village near Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
BusinessDay reports that the victims, mostly bean farmers from Gwoza, were reportedly attacked despite having an existing pact with a rival Boko Haram faction to farm and fish in insurgent-held territories in exchange for regular levies.
Sources told Zagazola Makama, counter-insurgency expert, that Malam Karanti falls under the operational influence of ISWAP, a faction known for its control over territory and hostility towards any perceived allegiance to rival groups.
According to a local vigilante, the attackers stormed the village at about 9:00 a.m., rounded up the farmers and fishermen, and executed 23 of them on accusations of collaborating with the rival Boko Haram faction.
“An elderly man, who was spared, reportedly returned to the community to raise the alarm.
“They accused them of paying Boko Haram to access land and fishing areas, which ISWAP considers a serious offence,” the source said.
Attempts by residents to recover the bodies were thwarted when the insurgents returned and fired on the search party, forcing them to retreat.
Makama noted that this is not the first time civilians have been caught in the crossfire of inter-factional rivalries.
“In a similar incident last year, dozens of farmers were killed in Dumba village near Baga after allegedly violating a non-aggression pact with a terrorist group.”
According to BusinessDay, Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno State, has repeatedly warned against clandestine deals with insurgents, cautioning that such arrangements expose civilians to fatal consequences.
“Unfortunately, some locals continue to trust the terrorists, believing that paying levies or cooperating will protect them. But history has shown that these groups turn against them at the slightest suspicion or territorial dispute,” the report said.
The report further revealed Malam Karanti, located about 60 kilometres from Baga, is known to be a volatile ISWAP enclave.
“Despite the risks, many civilians driven by hunger and poverty continue to venture into the area in search of farmland and fishing opportunities,” it added.