Terrorists believed to be from the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) ambushed a group of soldiers and civilians on a mission to recover the bodies of 40 farmers killed in Dumba, Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area, Borno State. The attack occurred on Tuesday, with an unspecified number of soldiers and 54 civilians, including hunters, vigilantes, and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members, still missing.
According to security and local sources, the soldiers attempted to repel the attack but were overwhelmed by the terrorists’ superior numbers and weaponry. One of the 54 civilians involved in the mission has returned to Baga, but was not in a condition to provide details. Casualties remain unclear, with some troops reportedly escaping back to their base after the ambush.
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In the aftermath, members of the farming community in Baga have called on the government to evacuate them to safer areas until security is restored. They revealed that they had only been able to access their farmlands and fishing zones after paying “levies” to the terrorists, highlighting the ongoing control exerted by armed groups in the region.
Meanwhile, the Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum visited Baga on Wednesday to offer his condolences to the victims. The governor expressed frustration, blaming both the military and farmers for the continued insecurity, as tensions over control and access to land and resources persist.
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