Governor Babagana Zulum has strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Dumba community near Baga in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack, carried out by Boko Haram and ISWAP operatives, claimed the lives of at least 40 farmers and fishermen on Sunday. Zulum urged the officers and men of Operation Hadin Kai to locate and eliminate the insurgents responsible for the attack in Dumba and other hideouts within the Lake Chad region.
The governor expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, pledging efforts to locate those still missing and reunite them with their loved ones.
In a statement by the state’s Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, the governor said, “With deep sorrow and anguish, I received the sad news of the attack on Dumba where scores of our farmers and fishermen were killed by the terrorists.
“On behalf of the government, I sympathise with the victims’ families. Let me assure the citizens of Borno that this matter will be thoroughly investigated for further necessary action.
“Let me use this opportunity to call on the armed forces to track and deal decisively with the perpetrators of this heinous act of violence against our innocent citizens.
“It was observed that the farmers strayed off the security corridor established by the security agencies, and went into an enclave that is yet to be cleared. Such enclaves are usually prone to nocturnal attacks by marauding terrorists, as well as being contaminated with landmines.”
The governor called on citizens not to venture beyond the safety zones that are demarcated by the government and security agencies.