The United Nations has dispelled the casualty figure in Saturday’s massacre of rice farmers by Boko Haram in Koshobe (or Kwashebe) in Jere local government area of Borno State.
Recall that a member of the state Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Babakura Kolo, who assisted some of the survivors, put the number of people killed at 43, according to AFP.
However, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, said that 110 civilians were killed in the attack.
The deceased were buried in the nearby village of Zabarmari on Sunday and Governor Babagana Zulum attended the funeral ceremony.
In a statement titled, ‘Statement on attack against civilians in Koshobe, Borno’, Kallon said, “I am outraged and horrified by the gruesome attack against civilians carried out by non-state armed groups in villages near Borno State capital Maiduguri. At least 110 civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in this attack.”
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He added, “We have also received reports that several women may have been kidnapped. I call for their immediate release and return to safety. My thoughts are also with the rural communities in the area, who are shocked by the brutality of yesterday’s (Saturday’s) attack and fear for their safety.
“The entire UN system and the humanitarian community working to provide life-saving and development assistance to the most vulnerable in Borno State are outraged by the incident. Such direct attacks against innocent civilians jeopardize the ability for the most vulnerable people to survive the adversity they are facing, and which we are striving to alleviate.”
The UN described the incident as “the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year,” and called on the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“It is, unfortunately, one of too many such attacks targeting farmers, fishermen and families who are trying to recover some livelihood opportunities after over a decade of conflict. I strongly condemn this attack and any act of violence against innocent civilians and I firmly urge all actors on the ground to respect international laws and humanity,” Kallon stated.
Amnesty International had disclosed in a tweet on Sunday that 16 of the victims were internally displaced persons.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday night described the killings of the rice farmers as “senseless” and “insane”.
“I condemn the killing of our hardworking farmers by terrorists in Borno State. The entire country is hurt by these senseless killings. My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls Rest In Peace,” the president said in a statement.
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