At least 17 farmers and fishermen have been killed by Boko Haram militants in Malam Karanti, a village near Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State. The attack, which occurred Thursday afternoon, is believed to be part of the ongoing rivalry between Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a breakaway jihadist faction.
According to local reports, the victims were fishing and tending to their farms along the shores of Lake Chad when they were ambushed. Several others were abducted, and the death toll is expected to rise.
“So far, 17 bodies have been recovered, and the search continues,” said Babakura Kolo, a militia leader involved in anti-insurgency operations. He noted that Boko Haram suspects many local farmers and fishermen of aiding ISWAP, which, while still violent, is seen as slightly less hostile toward civilians. “Though ISWAP also kills when it suits them,” he added.
Another militia member, Umar Ari, confirmed the death toll and said the attack took place around 2 p.m. on Thursday, targeting civilians near the freshwater lake.
The attack underscores the continued instability in Nigeria’s northeast, where Boko Haram and ISWAP have waged a brutal insurgency since 2009. Over 40,000 people have been killed and more than two million displaced during the conflict. The two factions have been locked in violent conflict since their 2016 split over ideological and territorial disagreements.
“Boko Haram now controls parts of Lake Chad and fears ISWAP might regain influence,” Kolo explained.
Just hours after the Malam Karanti killings, ISWAP fighters launched a separate attack early Friday on a military base in Wulgo, killing five soldiers. The base houses both Nigerian and Cameroonian troops.
Civilians—especially farmers, fishermen, herders, and scrap metal collectors—are increasingly targeted by both insurgent groups, often accused of spying or collaborating with security forces. In January, ISWAP reportedly killed at least 40 farmers in Dumba for working without permission, though intelligence sources cited by AFP suggested the toll could exceed 100.
Last month, Boko Haram also killed 14 farmers near Pulka, close to the Cameroon border, further highlighting the relentless danger faced by rural communities in the region.