DAILY TRUST
More facts have emerged as to how Boko Haram terrorists killed at least 40 farmers in Dumba community in Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday.
News of the attack emerged yesterday and towards the evening, details of the heinous act started trickling in as attention of millions of Nigerians and authorities moved to Maiduguri.
Survivors told Daily Trust yesterday that the victims were attacked in their farms around 3pm.
They said the terrorists accused the farmers of conniving with troops despite the “permission” given them by the insurgents to carry out their farming activities.
Adam Yusuf, who escaped the attack, spoke from Baga town on the telephone, saying the casualty figure could be much higher than 40 as confirmed by the Borno State government.
He said the terrorists assembled more than 1,000 fishermen and farmers, separated children and women from men, and opened fire on them.
Yusuf narrated: “Their leader told us that we (farmers) were serving as informants of the military by exposing their hideouts and movements within the general areas.
“We should be talking about 70 and above (that were killed). We were more than a thousand they assembled. The operation lasted for almost three hours. Some people are currently receiving treatment at Baga General Hospital and two persons with severe wounds were also referred to Monguno General Hospital.
“They mentioned all their strongholds including Dumba, Yatakura, Tilma, Madayi and other adjoining communities.”
Another survivor, Musa Yakubu, said they had crossed the fish dam to Dumba Island where they planted beans before the terrorists rounded them up and opened fire on them.
“Those who know how to swim escaped through the dam before the military came to rescue some of us in the morning (yesterday).
“We all went to the island from Gwoza to cultivate beans. We lost over 40 of people in the attack and some sustained bullet wounds.
“We thought they came to set their terms as they do to others. Unfortunately, they opened fire on us. In fact, I don’t know how I managed to escape,” he said.
A fisherman, who participated in the rescue of surviving farmers, said the insurgents usually issued permits to farmers and fishermen in the area.
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