Terrorist sect, Boko Haram, has claimed responsibility for the killing of 43 rice farmers over the weekend in Zabarmari village located in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to the Shekau-led group in footage it released on Tuesday, claiming responsibility for an attack that killed 22 farmers in November, also added that, it killed 78 farmers in the Saturday attack in Zabarmari, not 43 as reportrd by the government.
The attack which was widely condemned, also raised fresh anger, as the United Nations claimed 110 farmers were killed in the attack, countering the statement by the military, that it only counted 43 bodies.
Meanwhile, in the statement by the sect, the attacks were a retaliation on farmers for arresting its members and handing them over to the military.
The claim by the insurgent group, collaborates Hamidu Bala, a resident of Zabarmari and a member of Rapid Response Squad, a Borno government-established task force against banditry, who said a group of farmers on Friday disarmed a lone Boko Haram member and handed him over to the local security operatives.
“That action was what may have prompted reprisal from the insurgents,” Bala said.
Governor Babagana Zulum, has also called on the federal government to engage mercenaries from South Africa, to help fight and chase the group from Sambisa forest.
He said this, during a condolence visit by a delegation from the federal government led by, Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Monday.
Lawmakers in Nigeria have also asked president Buhari to appear before them, over the widespread insecurity in the country.
