From Olukayode Idowu, Maiduguri
No less than 42 rice farmers were killed by suspected Boko Haram at a rice plantation in Borno on Saturday, Sunrise News has learnt.
The insurgents also laid waste to the rice plantation after slaughtering all the farmers in another major attack in Borno State.
The farmers had gone to the farm in Kwashabe village in Zabarmari district of Jere local government to harvest their rice before they met their misfortune, a reliable security source told our correspondent on Saturday.
The security source, who preferred anonymity, said the insurgents in their numbers attacked the farmers on the farm at about 4pm, subdued and slaughtered them.
He said: “It is unfortunate that Boko Haram have killed 42 farmers in Kwashabe village, in Zabarmari part of Jere local government.
“It subdued farmers who were harvesting rice, slaughtered all of them and razed their farm, destroying their rice.”
The security who spoke to our correspondent at about 10 pm on Saturday, said: “As I am speaking to you the corpses of the farmers are lying in the farm as it is night and no one can bury them now.”
He said: “The Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, who was apparently shaken by the sad event, has equally instructed that he would like to see the corpses before they are buried.”
As at the time of filing this report last night the military and police could not officially be reached for confirmation.
Messages sent to the known mobile lines of their spokespersons were not replied.
