At least 15 farmers and firewood gatherers have been killed in a suspected Boko Haram attack in Ala and Musune wards of Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
The victims were reportedly ambushed while working on their farms on Wednesday evening, with local sources saying they were among 18 people who had ventured into the area for their daily activities.
The Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, confirmed the attack on Friday, saying 15 people were killed while efforts were ongoing to locate three others still missing.
“Yes, there was an attack in Marte. 15 people were killed while others are still missing. Efforts are ongoing to determine their whereabouts,” Daso said.
The police spokesperson said details of the incident remained sketchy, adding that the command would provide further information to the public after completing its data-gathering process.
However, local sources said the victims were predominantly peasant farmers and firewood gatherers, comprising young men, married men and elderly members of the community.
One of the sources, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that the victims were ambushed, restrained and executed by the attackers.
“They were ambushed by terrorists while carrying out their daily work, bound, forced to lie down, and executed at close range,” the source said.
The source further alleged that some of the victims were decapitated, adding that the identities of some of those killed could not immediately be established.
“Many people were killed. Some were not even recognisable. So far, we have buried 15 out of the 18; we are currently searching for three persons,” the source said.
Another source said members of the affected communities recovered the bodies from the scene and buried them in accordance with Islamic rites.
“It was after the incident that community members picked their bodies from the farm where they were massacred. The bodies found have been buried according to Islamic rites,” the source said.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has condemned the killings, describing the attack as horrific and a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
In a statement issued on Friday, the human rights organisation said at least 15 people were killed on Thursday, October 1, 2026, in Marte Local Government Area.
“Amnesty International strongly condemns the horrific killing of at least 15 people on Thursday, 1 October 2026, in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, Northeast Nigeria.
“The victims, who were local residents venturing into the surrounding bush to gather firewood to earn a living or cook for their families, were ambushed and targeted by a suspected Boko Haram group,” the statement read.
Amnesty International said the deliberate targeting of civilians by non-state armed groups amounted to a serious breach of international humanitarian law.
“Amnesty International calls on the Nigerian authorities to take immediate, transparent, and human-rights-compliant measures to protect vulnerable communities living in the region,” the statement said.
