Leader Boko Haram Islamic sect, Abubakar Shekau has debunked news of 43 farmers killed over the weekend as he said the insurgents actually killed no fewer than 78 farmers during last Saturday’s raid on rice farmers at Zabarmari community in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
Shekau stated this while claiming responsibility for the farmers’ death.
According to Shekau in a video released on Tuesday, he said that more than 43 farmers were killed in the tragic incident, saying his men went after the farmers because they handed over a member of the sect to the Nigerian army.
Shekau threatened that the sect members will go after those giving out intelligence on their activities to the military.
He warned that those arresting his members and giving out intelligence on the group’s activities to the military would “face the same fate if they did not desist from doing so.”
“The third message is on those who notoriously nab our brethren and hand them to the military or give them a clue on us. You should know that, unless you repent, what happened to your people is awaiting you.” he threatened.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has signed a protocol with China on provision of military assistance gratis to Nigeria, at a brief ceremony held at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The protocol was aimed at deepening bilateral military cooperation with the People’s Republic of China in the fight against terrorism in the country.
A statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister of Defence on Media and Publicity, Mohammad Abdulkadri, said the Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi (retd. ) thanked the acting Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Zhao Yong, on behalf of the FG.
•The Nation
