At least 15 farmers and firewood gatherers have been killed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
The victims were reportedly attacked on their farmlands around Ala and Musune wards on Wednesday evening while carrying out their daily activities.
Sources said 18 people had gone to the farms, but only 15 bodies were recovered and buried on Thursday, with three others still missing.
The Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, confirmed the attack on Friday, saying security personnel were working to establish the whereabouts of the missing persons.
“Yes, there was an attack in Marte. 15 people were killed while others are still missing. Efforts are ongoing to determine their whereabouts,” Daso said.
He, however, said details of the incident remained sketchy, noting that the police would provide further information after completing data gathering.
According to local sources, the victims comprised peasant farmers and firewood gatherers, including young men, married men and elderly members of the community.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the victims were caught off guard while working on their farms.
The source alleged that the terrorists restrained the victims, ordered them to lie down and subsequently executed them at close range.
The source also claimed that some of the victims were decapitated, making identification difficult.
“Many people were killed. Some were not even recognisable. So far, we have buried 15 out of the 18; we are currently searching for three persons,” the source said.
Another source said members of the community later went to the scene to recover the bodies after the attack.
The source added that the recovered victims were subsequently buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
The attack has also drawn condemnation from Amnesty International, which described the killings as horrific.
In a statement issued on Friday, the organisation said at least 15 people were killed in Marte Local Government Area on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
Amnesty International said the victims were local residents who ventured into the surrounding bush to gather firewood either to earn a living or cook for their families.
According to the organisation, the victims were ambushed and targeted by a suspected Boko Haram group.
It described the targeting of civilians by non-state actors as a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
Amnesty International subsequently called on the Nigerian authorities to take immediate, transparent and human-rights-compliant measures to protect vulnerable communities in the region.
