At least 40 farmers have been killed and several others are missing following an attack by suspected armed militants in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria.
The incident occurred on Sunday in Daban Leda, a farming community, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-terrorism expert focused on the Lake Chad region.
The farmers had reportedly negotiated and paid levies to an armed faction for access to the farmlands. However, another faction, unaware of the arrangement, ambushed and killed them.
Abubakar Gamandi, chairman of the Lake Chad Fishermen Association, confirmed the attack, recounting survivor testimonies that described the betrayal.
“Our farmers went to the enclave after making an arrangement and paying them money. Unfortunately, another faction, unaware of the agreement, attacked them,” Gamandi stated. He added that the exact death toll remains uncertain as more survivors emerge.
In northern Nigeria, many residents are forced to pay levies or taxes to terrorist groups or bandits for access to their lands or to ensure their safety.
Despite ongoing military efforts to curb insurgency, such attacks continue to devastate communities in the North-East region, exacerbating security challenges and disrupting livelihoods.