By Gabriel Atumeyi
Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram sect, says the group is responsible for the killing of rice farmers at Zabarmari community in Jere local government area of Borno state, describing it as a reprisal attack.
In a video released on Tuesday, Shekau said at least 78 farmers were killed in the tragic incident, because they handed over a member of the sect to the Nigerian army.
Shekau threatened further actions against all those giving out intelligence on Boko Haram activities to the military, promising that they will face the same fate.
Recall that Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum had said 43 residents were killed while working on their farmlands.
The killing has been widely condemned within and outside Nigeria, with the United Nations describing it as the “most violent attack” affecting civilians in 2020.
Earlier on Tuesday, the senate had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the service chiefs, while the House of Representatives said they would summon the president over the killing.