ISWAP fighters kill 23 farmers, fishermen in Borno

Tragic attack unfolded on Thursday morning in Malam Karanti, a remote village near Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, as suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) brutally killed at least 23 farmers and fishermen.

According to reports, the victims—primarily beans farmers from Gwoza—had negotiated a deal with a Boko Haram faction to farm and fish in areas under its control. The arrangement allowed them to work in exchange for regular payments to the group. However, Malam Karanti lies within ISWAP’s territory, a rival jihadist group known for its violent enforcement of territorial control and hostility toward perceived betrayal or collaboration with opposing factions.

Counterinsurgency expert Zagozola Makama reported that the insurgents stormed the village around 9:00 a.m., forcibly gathered the farmers and fishermen, and executed 23 of them on allegations of colluding with a rival group.

“The terrorists spared an elderly man, who later returned to the community and raised the alarm. They accused the victims of working with Boko Haram and defying ISWAP’s control. Most of them were beans farmers from Gwoza who paid Boko Haram to use the land,” a local vigilante source said.

Attempts to retrieve the bodies were thwarted when the insurgents returned and fired upon the search party, forcing them to flee.

This is not the first time civilians have paid with their lives after relying on informal arrangements with insurgent groups. Last year, dozens of farmers were similarly killed in Dumba village, also near Baga, after allegedly violating a non-aggression pact with a terrorist faction.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has repeatedly cautioned residents against making covert deals with insurgents for access to land and waterways. He warns such arrangements not only fuel terrorism but also leave civilians vulnerable to violent reprisals stemming from inter-group rivalries.

“Unfortunately, some locals continue to trust the terrorists, believing that paying levies or cooperating will protect them,” said a local official. “But history has shown that these groups turn against them at the slightest suspicion or territorial dispute.”

Despite the high risk, residents often venture into volatile areas like Malam Karanti in search of livelihood, driven by poverty and growing food insecurity in the region.