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Borno: 5 Gwoza farmers killed by Boko Haram insurgents

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Borno: 5 Gwoza farmers killed by Boko Haram insurgents

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Sam Kaye

Emir of Gwoza council area of Borno State, Alhaji Mohammed Timta has said that five farmers of his domain were slaughtered over the weekend while busy in their farms.

The monarch who chatted with newsmen in Maiduguri on Tuesday admitted that, five residents were killed by terrorists in their farmland in between Gwoza town and Limankara axis of Patawe and Tangerang mountainous communities last weekend.

He said it was sad that there was a renewal of aggression from the insurgents adding that they even abducted three others on their trail to their hideouts.

He however reacted to some publications in the Social space that hundreds of aggrieved residents invaded his palace and protested over renewed killings, especially targeted at farmers by terrorists.

The Royal Father who spoke with newsmen through phone also said the terrorists later killed one of the abductees, while the whereabout of the two others were still unknown to residents in the rocky community as at Tuesday.

Timta noted that the incident is regrettable and condemnable, especially now that the rains have come and majority of people were into farming for livelihood.

The sad incident attracted sympathizers who trooped into condole with the monarch at the palace in Gwoza town, which is about 130km from Maiduguri,

The entire Gwoza council area and it’s capital was under the control of Boko Haram, for sometime until it was liberated by the military in March, 2015 till this day that residents can go about their lives freely and easily.

” It is not true that residents protested in my palace. The truth of the matter was that, last Saturday while i was in Maiduguri to be part of the Traditional Rulers to receive His Excellency, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima for an official visit to commission projects executed by Governor Babagana Zulum to mark his 100 days in office of his 2nd Term, and flagging- off of projects by the North East Development Commission, (NEDC,) i received a distress call that Boko Haram members have killed five of my people in their farmlands, after abduction of about three others.

“We quickly moved back to Gwoza with some heads of security agencies in the convoy, and when my subjects learnt that i am back to base, some people rushed to my palace and paid condolence visits.

” They also expressed concern over the renewed attacks, which we all agreed including security operatives to take a proactive action in order to forestall future occurrences.

“I am surprised after a peaceful deliberation with those who paid condolences, some mischievous elements took to the pages of social media claiming that aggrieved members of the public invaded my palace and protested.

“I want to add that Gwoza town and its environs is peaceful and residents are going about their normal businesses.

“Infact, even the member representing Gwoza Local Government Area at the Borno state House of Assembly, Abdullahi Abatcha and other concerned individuals called me about the rumour that people protested at my palace, but i told them it is fake news.” Timta stated.

Meanwhile, terrorists have resorted to harvesting of crops in Wala village of Gwoza town, leaving farmers hopeless.

One of the resident farmers, Haruna Jahawa told reporters in a telephone call that all his maize farmlands along the Wala -Pilka -Gwoza road were invaded and harvested by members of Boko Haram sect at the weekend.

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