Bodies of butchered farmers
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NEWS- A Nigerian Government official has confirmed that at least 40 farmers were killed in an attack by Islamic militants in northeast Nigeria’s Borno state.

The attack was suspected to have been carried out by extremists from the Boko Haram group and its breakaway faction that is loyal to the Islamic State group in Borno’s Dumba community.

Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has since asked civilians to stay within designated “safe zones” that have been cleared by the army of both extremists and munitions.

Babagana also called for an investigation into the attack by the armed forces and assured the citizens of Borno that this matter will be thoroughly investigated for further necessary action.

“Let me use this opportunity to call on the armed forces to track and deal decisively with the perpetrators of this heinous act of violence against our innocent citizens,” Babagana said.

Boko Haram is the Nigeria’s homegrown Jihadis militants who took up arms in 2009 to fight Western education and impose their radical version of Islamic law and the conflict, now Africa’s longest struggle with militancy, has spilled into Nigeria’s northern neighboring countries.

According to the United Nations an estimated 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than 2 million have been displaced in the northeastern Nigeria.

It should be remembered that in 2014, the Boko Haram militants kidnapped l 276 schoolgirls in the village of Chibok in Borno state the epicenter of the conflict and it captured the attention of the world.

Additional Reporting from Associated Press.