Boko Haram leaders said his sect killed Borno farmers for reporting their activities to the military

BOKO Haram leader Sheikh Abubakar Shekau has confirmed that his terrorist sect was responsible for the recent killing of rice farmers in the Kwashebe Zabarmari axis of Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.

Over the weekend, it was reported that 43 farmers had their throats slit by Boko Haram terrorists in one of the most gruesome attacks the sect has carried out lately. In a three-minute video released yesterday, Sheikh Shekau said his group killed 78 farmers because they arrested and handed one of its brothers over to the Nigerian Army.

In the chilling video, Sheikh Shekau also warned that those arresting their members and giving out intelligence on their activities to the military will face the same fate if they did not desist from doing so. He also said that the number killed was 78 and not 43 as reported by the Nigerian authorities.

Sheikh Shekau said: “The third message is on those who notoriously nab our brethren and hand them to the military or give them a clue on us. You should know that, unless you repent, what happened to your people is awaiting you.”

United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, revealed that at least 110 people were killed in the attack while the Nigerian military insisted that only 43 died. On Sunday, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State had participated in the funeral prayers for 43 victims of the attack.

One of the local hunters, who participated in a search and rescue operation, said most of the farmers found dead in the rice field had their throats slit. He said: “We have recovered 43 corpses.

"The attackers slaughtered all of them. As we speak, there is great disquiet and mourning in our communities.”

Mallam Hassan, the chairman of the Rice Farmers Association in Zabarmari, who corroborated the sad incident, expressed dismay over the senseless and vicious killing of innocent farmers, including children. He added: “It is very sad, for us, that these people went to their farms to work, only to be attacked and killed in this manner. So far, we have recovered 43 corpses, including children.”