At least 16 people have been killed in separate attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, North-East Nigeria.
Local sources confirmed that 14 farmers were brutally murdered on Saturday while heading to their farmlands, while two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were ambushed and killed on Friday near Sabon-Gari, close to Kirawa, during a routine patrol.
According to residents, the insurgents ambushed the CJTF patrol vehicle, opening fire on the vigilante members and killing two on the spot. The driver of the vehicle reportedly managed to escape with gunshot wounds.
The Emir of Gwoza, His Royal Highness Mohammed Idris Timta, who confirmed the farmers’ killings, said the victims had ventured beyond the government-approved farming zones without security escorts. “Unfortunately, the terrorists were hiding in those areas,” the traditional ruler disclosed in an interview with Channels Television.
The Emir explained that ten bodies were initially recovered from the scene, with four more discovered on Sunday, bringing the total death toll among the farmers to 14. The tragic incident occurred in a community located directly beneath the Mandara Mountains, between Pulka and Ngoshe.
Security officials in the region have yet to release an official statement on the attacks, though local vigilante groups and community leaders have urged farmers to strictly adhere to designated safe areas and farming guidelines to avoid future tragedies.
The Gwoza axis, situated along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, has remained one of the flashpoints of Boko Haram activity since the insurgency began in 2009.
