KUKAWA, Nigeria – Islamic State West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorists in a shocking attack have reportedly beheaded 21 herders in the Kukawa region of Borno State, Nigeria.
This action appears to be part of a targeted campaign against herdsmen in the North East.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, disclosed that the terrorists have recently prohibited fishing, farming, and grazing in their hideouts.
The herders allegedly trespassed these areas, which led to the gruesome incident on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
Furthermore, ISWAP fighters accused the herders of spying for Nigerian military and security agencies.
“The terrorists did not fire any gunshot; they quietly used machetes to behead the 21 herdsmen,” Makama said. Following the brutal execution, the terrorists rustled an unspecified number of cattle into their settlements at the Kukawa-Doro-Kalla axis.
On the same day, ISWAP forces, in seven-gun trucks, intercepted and killed six more Fulani herdsmen in the Kukawa area, citing the same allegations.
A military source confirmed that the herdsmen were warned not to graze their cattle in the forbidden Kukawa area.
Survivors managed to recover four bodies from the scene.
Adding to the escalating conflict, ISWAP reportedly abducted seven Fulani herdsmen in Monguno on Monday and have demanded a ransom of N40 million.
In a related development, the Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of 14 individuals from the Modogora community in Batsari Local Council.
The victims, including women and children, were working on a farm when armed terrorists attacked and took them to a nearby forest.
According to local sources, this incident was one of five similar attacks in separate communities within the council, resulting in the abduction of about 40 individuals.
Meanwhile, Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka, expressed frustration at the public’s indifference towards security operations and lack of cooperation with the police.
“We cannot do our job effectively, as nobody is ready to come out to name his brother in crime because he is afraid that the brother may go after him,” Onyeka stated.
He urged residents to cooperate more actively with law enforcement, citing an example from the South East where locals reportedly provided valuable information about the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to police.
This series of brutal attacks underscores the growing tensions and security concerns in Northeast Nigeria.
The situation calls for more proactive measures and community participation to curb the escalating violence.
