As Boko Haram insurgents struck and sent many to their early graves, Shehu Sani, former Kaduna Central Senator, has bemoaned that Nigeria is bleeding in the hands of evil.
Boko Haram had on Saturday night killed and beheaded more than 43 farmers on rice fields at Zabarmari, in Jere Local Government of Borno State, which is less than 20 km from Maiduguri.
Speaking to the bereaved community, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum said: “First of all, accept my deepest sympathy over this carnage, once again, that affects all of us and every human with conscience. I am told some persons are still missing. We have been discussing with the military since yesterday, Insha Allah the remaining people will be traced soon.”
Reacting to the carnage in the Twitter, Sani wrote: “The reported massacre of over 40 farmers by insurgents in Borno State earlier today is condemnable.
“This is recurring news for some, but a horrible tragedy for the children, wives and loved ones they left behind.
“Every dawn of a new day, our nation bleeds in the hands of evil.”
At the burial of the victims on Sunday morning, Governor Zulum was told that the death toll of rice farmers killed in the state may rise above the 43 corpses buried on Sunday morning.
The governor was also told by residents who were involved in the retrieval of the corpses that it was still early to determine the number of those killed in the attack.
One of the residents, who preferred anonymity for security reason, said: “Your Excellency, as you have seen here, 43 corpses were buried, but others have not been retrieved from the scene of the incident. Nobody can tell you the exact number of people killed. Some of the victims are still missing.”
Speaking to the bereaved community, Zulum said: “First of all, accept my deepest sympathy over this carnage, once again, that affects all of us and every human with conscience. I am told some persons are still missing. We have been discussing with the military since yesterday, Insha Allah the remaining people will be traced soon.”
Later, the Borno Governor told journalists that “It is disheartening that more than 40 citizens were slaughtered while they were working in their farmlands. Our people are in very difficult situations, they are in two different extreme conditions, in one side they stay at home they may be killed by hunger and starvation, on the other, they go out to their farmlands and risk getting killed by the insurgents.
“This is very sad. We are still appealing to the Federal Government to ensure recruitment of more of our youths in the CJTF and hunters into the Nigerian military and the Civil Defence so that they can form part of the agro-rangers that will protect farmers.
“We need many boots to protect farmlands and our youths understand the terrain. We will not lose hope because we have to remain optimistic about ending the insurgency.”
