The killing of rice farmers at Kwashebe by Boko Haram Terrorists in Borno State on Saturday attracted strong condemnations from eminent Nigerians and groups on Sunday .
The AFP had on Saturday reported that the insurgents attacked Kwashebe and killed no fewer than 43 rice farmers.
The terrorists were reported to have tied up the farmers, who were working on rice fields, before slitting their throats .
Although a member of the state Civilian Joint Task Force, Babakura Kolo, who assisted some of the survivors , put the number of people killed at 43 , the United Nations on Sunday said 110 rice farmers lost their lives during the attack .
Groups and individuals , including Nigeria Governors Forum; Northern Governors Forum, All Farmers ’ Association of Nigeria ; the President of the Senate , Dr Ahmed Lawan ; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and the Coalition of Northern Groups , lamented that the attack would affect food security in the country .
On Sunday , the UN shed more light on the attack , contrary to earlier reports , it said 110 civilians were killed by Boko Haram .
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria , Mr Edward Kallon , who disclosed this , also said , many other persons were injured in the deadly attack by the terrorist group .
Also, the Amnesty International in a tweet on Sunday disclosed that 16 of the victims were internally displaced persons.
But Kallon , in a statement on Sunday , titled , ‘ Statement on attack against civilians in Koshobe , Borno, ’ stated , “ I am outraged and horrified by the gruesome attack against civilians carried out by non- state armed groups in villages near Borno State capital Maiduguri . At least 110 civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in this attack .”
He disclosed that the afternoon attack was carried out by armed men on motorcycles, who murdered men and women, who were harvesting their fields in Kwashebe and other rural communities in the Jere Local Government Area .
Kallon, while condoling with the government and people of Nigeria , also said many women might have been kidnapped during the attack .
He noted, “ We have also received reports that several women may have been kidnapped . I call for their immediate release and return to safety . My thoughts are also with the rural communities in the area , who are shocked by the brutality of yesterday ’s ( Saturday ’ s ) attack and fear for their safety .”
“ The entire UN system and the humanitarian community working to provide life -saving and development assistance to the most vulnerable in Borno State are outraged by the incident . Such direct attacks against innocent civilians jeopardize the ability for the most vulnerable people to survive the adversity they are facing , and which we are striving to alleviate .”
The UN described the incident as “ the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year ,” and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice .
“ It is , unfortunately , one of too many such attacks targeting farmers, fishermen and families who are trying to recover some livelihood opportunities after over a decade of conflict . I strongly condemn this attack and any act of violence against innocent civilians and I firmly urge all actors on the ground to respect international laws and humanity, ” the UN official stressed .
The global organisation observed that rural communities in Borno State were facing untold hardships , adding that helping them to farm land and rebuild livelihoods were amongst the UN priorities and the only way to avoid the looming food crisis in the state .
It said civilians needed to be protected and spared from any kind of violence .
The statement read, “ Innocent women , children and men desperately need food and other support and assistance , particularly at a time when we are recording some of the highest levels of food insecurity in Borno State . We owe to do our utmost to help them survive these difficult times .”
Rise , protect yourselves , CNG tells Northerners
The CNG called on northerners to “ rise and protect themselves ” from all forms of banditry and insurgency afflicting the region .
The organisation said that regime of the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd) , had lost control over “ the imperatives of protecting northerners .”
The CNG , in a statement by its Spokesperson , Abdul -Azeez Suleiman , titled , ‘Borno killings : Time for citizen action ’, said, “ Time has come for citizens to rise and protect themselves . The situation under which all northern communities live today is no longer tolerable and we must all rise to protect ourselves and demand an immediate and comprehensive overhaul of the leadership of the nation ’ s military and the entire security and law and order assets .
“ The President and federal troops keep telling us that they are doing something about the mounting insecurity; but by now , all northerners must have realized that our region has been abandoned at the mercy of a rampaging insurgency that is continuously wasting the greatest asset of North , its population and weakening it politically and pauperizing it .”
The Managing Director of Wal -Wanne Group, Abiso Kabi , in a statement on Sunday , said the sad incident would not only cause instability in the zone , but would also lead to poverty and make the people to depend on aid .
Kabi said the Koila Agro Allied Nigeria Limited was the most affected company , as it lost many of its farmers to the attack .
He called on the Federal Government to recruit more persons into the civilian joint task force to boost security in the state .
The Convener , Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution , Ariyo – Dare Atoye , in an interview admonished Nigerians to unite and be resolute in demanding the overhaul of the nation ’s security architecture.
He said Buhari should either sack the service chiefs or tender his resignation letter, noting that Nigerians had lost confidence in them and by extension , in the Buhari regime .