A tragic incident recently unfolded in the Diffa district of Niger, where Boko Haram terrorists brutally killed 14 Nigerian fishermen. This heinous act was reported by an anti-jihadist militia leader who works closely with Nigeria's military forces.
The victims were among thousands of Nigerians who had fled their homes in the northeastern part of the country, seeking refuge across the border in Niger to escape the relentless violence perpetrated by armed groups.
The fishermen, originally from the Nigerian towns of Malam Fatori and Doron Baga, were engaged in their daily activities when they were attacked by Boko Haram militants.
According to Babakura Kolo, a leader of a vigilante group, "All 14 fishermen had their throats slit by the Boko Haram terrorists who operate in the Bosso area close to the border." This gruesome attack occurred just a few kilometers from Malam Fatori on the Nigerian side of the border, as confirmed by Ibrahim Liman, another member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
The CJTF is a state-funded initiative comprising locals recruited by the Nigerian military in Borno state. These individuals are trained to assist in combating jihadist insurgents, providing crucial support to the military efforts in the region.
Despite these efforts, Nigeria's troubled northeast has been plagued by a 15-year conflict that has claimed more than 40,000 lives and displaced around two million people from their homes. According to the United Nations, approximately 138,000 individuals have fled to Niger, relying heavily on international aid for survival.
In the face of such adversity, the displaced populations resort to fishing, logging, and metal scrap scavenging to afford food and supplement their insufficient rations. However, Boko Haram and the rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) group have increasingly targeted these vulnerable communities. They accuse loggers, herders, farmers, fishermen, and metal scrap collectors of spying and divulging information to the army and allied militias.
This latest attack is not an isolated incident. In May, ISWAP militants killed dozens of fishermen on three islands on the Nigerian side of Lake Chad. This was reportedly in retaliation for military airstrikes on ISWAP camps that decimated scores of fighters and their families. Lake Chad, which straddles Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, serves as a sanctuary for both Boko Haram and ISWAP. These groups use the lake as a base from which to launch attacks into the surrounding countries.
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