by Oge Okonkwo

The Konduga Local Government of Borno State is currently in a state of chaos as rice farmers are fleeing the area for their lives as suspected Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly set their farms ablaze, killing at least eight persons in the last five days.

One of the leaders in the rice farming community, Umaru Musa told newsmen that he had to rush to the state capital Maiduguri, to report to the state government that they have been surrounded by Boko Haram.

“Our rice farms were still on fire as at when we left for Maiduguri this morning,” Musa said.

Leadership reports:

Musa further said, “Just this morning (Wednesday), one of our farmers was killed. Two others were shot yesterday, but one survived and three rice farmers were killed on Monday. All in all, at least eight farmers have died since the beginning of this week. This is the peak of harvesting period and they attacked us last night, setting ablaze already harvested and bagged rice, as well as the rice farms. As I speak, the rice farms are on fire and our people are on the run from all the areas where major rice farms are located, like Balge and Umba-Umba.

“They have killed one of our most prominent farmers, Zanna Apolo, whom they said had been leaking information to security operatives,” he said.

An enquiry sent by email to the state police commissioner, Tanko Lawan, had not been replied as at the time of filing this report.