At least 23 farmers and fishermen have lost their lives in a brutal attack by suspected Islamist militants in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. Local security sources and residents revealed that the assault occurred in the early hours of Thursday in the quiet village of Malam Karanti.
The victims, mostly bean farmers and fishermen, were rounded up and executed, according to witnesses. The attackers reportedly spared only one elderly man, who managed to alert nearby communities about the tragic event. His account, confirmed by multiple residents, paints a grim picture of the relentless violence plaguing the region.
Nigeria has been battling a persistent insurgency for over a decade in its northeast, largely driven by the extremist group Boko Haram and its splinter faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). These groups continue to wage deadly attacks, despite ongoing military operations aimed at restoring peace.
“The militants gathered everyone and executed them without mercy,” said Sani Auwal, a local who spoke to reporters by phone. “They left behind an elderly man who later brought the devastating news to the rest of us.”
Another local, Usman Ali, explained that attempts to retrieve the bodies were thwarted by the militants, who returned to the scene and chased people away. “We couldn’t even bury our dead. The area is still unsafe,” he added.
Efforts to get a response from Nigeria’s military authorities have so far failed, with calls and messages to the army’s spokesperson going unanswered.
This latest tragedy comes on the heels of renewed attacks in Borno State, reversing what was once believed to be steady progress in the fight against Boko Haram. Just last month, Borno’s governor openly acknowledged that insurgents have resumed coordinated strikes and kidnappings in the state, signaling a resurgence of terror after years of relative calm.
The people of Borno, already worn out by years of conflict and displacement, are once again living in fear. With communities under siege and lives lost regularly, many are calling for a more aggressive and coordinated response from both the Nigerian government and international partners.
As the cycle of violence continues, families are left to mourn, and communities are struggling to survive. For now, the people of Malam Karanti must bury their loved ones—if they can—and pray for an end to the carnage.
