From Joseph Asegba, Yola
United Nations (UN) says it condemned the recent killing of no fewer 40 farmers and fishermen in Dumba town, Kukawa Local Government Area (LGA), Borno State, by suspected non-state armed groups (NSAG).
The UN described the attack as a grave violation of international and national human rights laws and called for swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice.
In a statement issued said the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, decried the incident as part of a disturbing pattern of violence in the conflict-troubled areas of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states.
Fall said, “I am horrified by the recent mass killing of fishermen and farmers in Borno State’s Kukawa Local Government Area, reportedly carried out by members of a non-state armed group.”
Fall said. “On 12 January, at least 40 civilians, all men, were reportedly killed in Dumba community after allegedly breaching an NSAG ban on farming activities. Several people remain missing, according to humanitarian partners operating in neighboring Monguno LGA.”
Fall sympathetically extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He reaffirmed the UN’s solidarity with the people and government of Borno State, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability.
“The armed actors responsible for these attacks must be identified and brought to justice in accordance with national and international human rights laws”.
The UN raises the alarm that there has been pattern of violence highlighting the activities of the perpetrators of the violence.
The statement also highlighted the ongoing dangers faced by civilians in the BAY states, recounting multiple attacks in 2024 that targeted vulnerable communities:
February 2024: Hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs), including women and children, were abducted in Ngala LGA after venturing outside protected areas in search of firewood.
Also in June 2024,Suicide bomb attacks in Gwoza LGA killed scores of civilians and injured many others.
July 2024: Farmers in Firgi community, Gwoza LGA, were attacked, resulting in fatalities and the abduction of women and girls, who were later released.
And in September 2024: Over 100 men and boys were killed in an NSAG attack in Tarmuwa LGA, Yobe State.
Fall also noted that, incidents in Dikwa, Logomane, Ngala, and Pulka areas of Borno State, underscoring the persistent and prevailing insecurity in the region.
The UN called for enhanced security measures to protect civilians and urged all parties to the conflict to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law.
“The UN remains committed to supporting affected people and complementing government efforts.” I also call for enhanced security measures to safeguard lives and livelihoods in conflict-affected areas.”
The killings in Kukawa and similar attacks across the region serve as a grim reminder of the urgent need for sustained efforts to address the humanitarian and security challenges in northeastern Nigeria.
