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Boko Haram militants have killed at least 17 fishermen and farmers in Malam Karanti village, near Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. The victims were accused of supporting a rival jihadist faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
According to reports, the attack occurred on Thursday afternoon as the victims were fishing and tending to crops along the shores of Lake Chad. Several others were reportedly abducted during the assault, raising fears that the death toll may increase. “So far, 17 bodies have been recovered, and the search for more is ongoing,” Babakura Kolo, a militia leader involved in anti-jihadist operations, told reporters. He explained that Boko Haram suspects local fishermen and farmers of aiding ISWAP, a splinter group considered somewhat less hostile toward civilians. “Though Boko Haram also kills fishermen and farmers when it suits them,” Kolo added.
Umar Ari, another militia member, confirmed the attack and casualty figures, stating that the militants struck around 2 p.m., targeting civilians working near the freshwater lake.
This attack highlights the ongoing violence in Nigeria’s northeast, where Boko Haram and ISWAP have waged a deadly insurgency since 2009. The conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced more than two million people. The two jihadist factions have been engaged in a violent rivalry since a split in 2016 over ideological differences and territorial control.
“Boko Haram now controls Lake Chad and is wary of a potential comeback by ISWAP,” Kolo said.
The Malam Karanti killings occurred just hours before a separate assault early Friday by ISWAP fighters, who attacked a military base housing Nigerian and Cameroonian troops in Wulgo, killing five soldiers.
Civilians—particularly farmers, fishermen, herders, and scrap metal collectors—have increasingly become targets of both groups, often accused of espionage or cooperating with the military and local defense forces. In January, ISWAP reportedly killed at least 40 farmers in Dumba for farming without permission. A Nigerian intelligence report cited by AFP suggested the toll could be higher than 100.
Last month, Boko Haram also killed 14 farmers near Pulka, close to the Cameroonian border, underscoring the relentless threat faced by rural communities in the region.
