In a brutal escalation of violence in Nigeria’s northeast, Boko Haram jihadists have killed at least 17 farmers and fishermen in Malam Karanti village, near Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. The militants reportedly accused the victims of supporting their rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
According to Babakura Kolo, a leader of local militias involved in anti-insurgency efforts, the attackers ambushed the victims while they were working along the shores of Lake Chad. He confirmed the recovery of 17 bodies, adding that more victims were likely still missing as search operations continued.
“Boko Haram suspects that farmers and fishermen in the area sympathize with ISWAP, who are generally seen as less hostile to civilians—though they too have committed heinous attacks,” Kolo explained.
Umar Ari, another member of the community’s defense group, confirmed the details of the assault, which occurred around 2 p.m. on Thursday. He noted that the victims were simply tending to their livelihoods when the militants struck.
The attack adds to the staggering toll of a jihadist insurgency that has plagued the region since 2009, resulting in the deaths of around 40,000 people and the displacement of over two million.
Since splitting from Boko Haram in 2016 due to ideological differences, ISWAP and Boko Haram have frequently clashed. Both groups have also intensified attacks on civilians accused of collaborating with government forces or rival factions.
Thursday’s massacre came just hours before a separate pre-dawn assault on Friday, when ISWAP militants stormed a military base shared by Nigerian and Cameroonian troops in the town of Wulgo, killing five soldiers.
Civilians across the region, including farmers, herders, fishermen, and scrap metal collectors, continue to face severe risks from both terrorist factions. These groups routinely accuse locals of espionage and retaliate with lethal force.
Earlier this year, ISWAP executed over 40 farmers in Dumba for allegedly farming without permission on its territory. Some intelligence sources suggested the death toll may have been even higher, possibly exceeding 100. Just last month, Boko Haram killed 14 more farmers in a similar attack near Pulka, close to the Cameroon border.
As the conflict intensifies, residents in Borno and surrounding areas remain caught in the crossfire between two deadly factions vying for control and influence in the region.
