Suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have killed at least 50 farmers in a brutal attack on Malam Karanti village, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. The massacre reportedly occurred on Thursday after rival Boko Haram fighters ambushed the area, which had been under ISWAP control. The farmers had previously secured protection through a levy agreement with an ISWAP commander, Amir Akilu. However, in his absence, they were accused of espionage and siding with enemy factions.
According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants rounded up the farmers—who were harvesting beans—and issued a deadly warning against escape. Survivors said over 50 were slaughtered on the spot, while others were abducted. “They gathered us and warned anyone trying to flee would be killed. Many tried, and most were slaughtered,” one survivor told reporters.
The terrorists reportedly extended their assault to Dawashi community on Friday, though casualty details from that location remain unconfirmed. As of press time, there has been no official response from Nigerian security agencies or government authorities. This attack comes just five months after a similar massacre claimed the lives of 40 farmers in Dumba, also in the Baga axis.
The latest violence underscores the persistent insecurity in Borno State, where farming communities remain vulnerable despite ongoing military operations aimed at restoring peace to the northeast.
