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NEWS- Government Officials in Northeastern Nigeria have confirmed that an attack by Boko Haram insurgents has killed at least 20 fishermen in Borno State.

Nigeria has been grappling with a 16-year-long Islamist insurgency in its Northeast which is driven by Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) that has led to huge human and economic losses, including mass displacement and a humanitarian crisis.

Boko Haram is an Arabic phrase that means “Group of the People of Sunnah for Dawah and Jihad” and the group is active in Nigeria, Chad, Niger, northern Cameroon and Mali.

A member of the Civilian Joint Task Force, Modu Ari said the insurgents stormed the fishing community of Gadan Gari and opened fire at fishermen working in the area and killed at least 20 wheee Mustapha Kacahallah, a resident, said his child was killed in the attack and that they buried more than 15 people yesterday.

The military and Borno state officials have not yet commented on the attacks and this comes after suspected Islamist militants killed at least 40 farmers in an attack on the Dumba community in Nigeria’s Northeastern Borno State on January 12th 2025.

The militants were believed to belong to the armed group Boko Haram and its offshoot ISWAP, who have been waging a deadly insurgency in northeast Nigeria since 2009 that has displaced millions and killed thousands, with Borno at its epicenter.

The Commissioner of information Usman Tar said that the latest attack comes amid a worsening food crisis in Borno, exacerbated by flooding in September and years of insecurity and displacement caused by the insurgency.

Initial reports indicate the farmers strayed outside a security corridor set up by the military, venturing into an area known for insurgent activity and strewn with landmines. Tar said that the security forced were looking for any farmers who had escaped the attack, to help in investigations.

Borno Governor Babagana Zulum condemned the attack in a statement, calling on the military to track and deal decisively with the perpetrators and asked the attack will be investigated and asked farmers and fishermen in the area to operate within the safe corridors demarcated by the military.

Boko Haram and ISWAP have stepped up attacks in Borno since the new year started with a failed ambush on a military patrol last week leaving 34 militants dead while 6 government soldiers were killed in action.

Additional Reporting from Associated Press