At least 23 people, mostly farmers and fishermen, were killed on Thursday morning in a deadly assault by suspected militants in Malam Karanti, a village in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State. Local residents and security sources confirmed the incident, which underscores a renewed wave of violence in the region.
According to accounts from the village, armed men stormed the area at dawn, gathering civilians before executing them. Many of the victims were bean farmers who had gone out early to work. One elderly man was reportedly left unharmed and later raised the alarm in the community.
Attempts to recover the victims’ bodies were thwarted when the attackers returned to the scene, forcing locals to abandon the effort. Residents described the atmosphere as tense and fearful, with many still unable to account for missing relatives.
Nigeria’s army has not issued a statement on the incident. Repeated calls and text messages to a military spokesperson seeking comment went unanswered.
This attack comes amid a series of renewed assaults and abductions in Borno State, a region long affected by a violent insurgency. Just last month, the state governor acknowledged a rise in such incidents, signaling a reversal of previous security gains.
The killings in Malam Karanti serve as a stark reminder of the challenges facing communities in northeastern Nigeria, where civilians remain vulnerable despite years of military operations.