President Muhammadu Buhari and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila have condemned in strongest terms the killing of over 40 rice farmers at Zabarmari, in Jere Local Government of Borno State by the Boko Haram insurgents.
President Buhari, in a statement on Saturday signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu, described the killing of the farmers by the terrorists’ group as “insane”.
The statement reads, “President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed grief over the killing of farmers on rice fields at Zabarmari, in Jere Local Government of Borno State, describing the terrorist killings as insane.
“I condemn the killing of our hardworking farmers by terrorists in Borno State. The entire country is hurt by these senseless killings.
“My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls Rest In Peace.”
President Buhari said the government had given all the needed support to the armed forces “to take all necessary steps to protect the country’s population and its territory.”
Speaking also on the attack on the farmers, Gbajabiamila called for more military action against the insurgents.
The speaker, who expressed sadness over the killings of the innocent rice farmers, said the incident has once again brought to the fore the need for more military action against the terrorists.
“It is unfortunate that at a time the country is focusing on self-sufficiency in rice farming, about 50 of the farmers were killed in a most gruesome manner,” he stated.
He commiserated with the families of the killed farmers, the people and government of Borno State over the sad incident.
The Speaker said the House is determined and ready to provide all necessary support, including the ongoing budgeting process to ensure that funds are allocated to the security agencies to carry out their mandate of wiping out the terrorists.
“It’s unfortunate that about 50 of our countrymen lost their lives to the barbaric and inhuman action of the insurgents at this time.
“This incident is one too many for us as a country. Here were innocent citizens going about their lives of looking for their daily bread to cater for their families. But are murdered in a most gruesome manner.
“Their lives should not go in vain. This should call for more action from our military. As a House, we are ever ready to give them all the necessary support, especially through budgetary allocation, to deal decisively with the insurgents.
“My heart goes out to the families of the murdered farmers,” the Speaker said.
The Boko Haram insurgents had seized and taken captive over 60 farmers in Borno.
Over 40 of the captured farmers were later killed by slitting their throats.
The bodies of those killed have been taken to a nearby village, Zabarmari, where they would be interred on Sunday.
Most of the farmers were reported to have travelled to Borno from Sokoto State to harvest their rice farms.
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