ISWAP Terrorists Behead 27 Herders In Borno State

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have beheaded 27 herders in the Kukawa axis of Borno State after herdsmen trespassed on terrorists' hideouts.

A police source disclosed on Wednesday that these killings took place on Tuesday, where 18 people were killed in one village while others were killed in another village - both in the Kukawa district.

A counter-insurgency expert shared that ISWAP terrorists banned fishing, farming, and grazing in their hideout areas, adding that those terrorists accused these herders of spying for the Nigerian military and other security agencies.

"The terrorists did not fire any gunshot; they quietly used machetes to behead the 21 herdsmen," a source disclosed, TheGuardian reported. Maiduguri-based military source disclosed that these herdsmen were first warned not to graze their cattle in the area and later they were killed.

Aside from killing, the terrorists also kidnapped seven Fulani herdsmen in Monguno on Monday and asked for N40 million ransom.

Katsina State Police, on the other hand, confirmed that 14 people have been abducted from the Modogora community, Batsari Local Council. These 14 people were working on a farm on Tuesday morning when a bunch of armed terrorists came on their motorcycles.

One of the sources noted that these terrorists kidnapped women and children alongside men. According to the outlet, four such incidents took place on the same day within the council in four separate communities.

Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka said that the police are not able to do their job effectively as nobody is willing to come out and reveal the names of those bandits.

He explained that two weeks ago, when the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) asked people to sit at home but instead people chose to inform security operatives, they were able to arrest 26 IPOB men.

"This is the type of information we want. We need your assistance and cooperation. Let us not be dormant," he added.

Nigeria has been affected by several internal conflicts. The attacks from bandits increased in the early 2020s. In April 2022, more than 150 were killed in Plateau State by a gang of bandits.

Even earlier this month, eight people were killed in Plateau and Benue states including an eight-month-old infant named Farin Lamba.

President Bola Tinubu expressed grief over "unfortunate" killings and urged all the religious leaders, traditional rulers, socio-cultural organizations, and communities to join hands in order to ensure long-lasting peace in the country.

Sani Yakubu, who serves as a member representing the Tangaza/Gudu federal constituency of Sokoto State in the House of Representatives, disclosed on July 12 that Local bandits and jihadists from Niger, Mali, and Libya have imposed tax on farmers.