14 Nigerian fishermen slaughtered in suspected Boko Haram attack

Tragedy struck in Niger’s Diffa district on Sunday as fourteen Nigerian fishermen were killed in an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists.

The victims, who had fled the violent conflict in northeast Nigeria, were fishing near Bosso, a town close to the Nigerian border, when they were attacked.

The deadly assault occurred despite the fishermen seeking refuge in Niger from the ongoing insurgency.

Babakura Kolo, a leader of a local vigilante group working with Nigeria’s military, confirmed the killings, shedding light on the increasing vulnerability of communities in border regions as Boko Haram continues its reign of terror across the Sahel.

READ ALSO:Wanted Boko Haram suspect nabbed in Ekiti

“All 14 fishermen had their throats slit by the Boko Haram terrorists who operate in the Bosso area close to the border,” Kolo said.

The fishermen hailed from the Nigerian towns of Malam Fatori and Doron Baga and were among thousands of displaced persons who sought refuge in Niger Republic to escape relentless raids by armed groups.

The Diffa region, which borders Nigeria and Chad, has endured a surge in attacks by Boko Haram and its splinter group, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), in recent years.