By Opeyemi Adelakun
At least 15 people have been killed after suspected Boko Haram terrorists reportedly attacked residents working on farms in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.
The victims were among 18 people who went to their farms around Ala and Musune wards on Wednesday evening, according to local sources.
Fifteen bodies had been recovered and buried by Thursday, while three others were still missing.
The Borno State Police Command confirmed the attack on Friday, although it said details remained limited.
“Yes, there was an attack in Marte. 15 people were killed while others are still missing. Efforts are ongoing to determine their whereabouts,” the command’s spokesperson, Nahum Daso, said.
Daso said security authorities were still gathering information on the incident and would provide further details when available.
Residents familiar with the incident identified the victims as mainly peasant farmers and people who went into the bush to gather firewood. They included young men, married men and older residents.
A local source said the victims were attacked while carrying out their routine activities.
“They were ambushed by terrorists while carrying out their daily work, bound, forced to lie down, and executed at close range,” the source alleged.
The source further claimed that some of the victims were decapitated, although the allegation was not independently verified.
“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 resident said community members recovered the bodies from the area and buried them in accordance with Islamic rites.
The attack has drawn condemnation from Amnesty International, which described the killings as a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
In a statement issued on Friday, the rights organisation said the victims were residents who had gone into surrounding areas to gather firewood for household use or to earn a living.
“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 organisation said.
It called on the Nigerian authorities to strengthen measures to protect communities exposed to attacks and ensure that the circumstances surrounding the killings are properly investigated.
The identities of those responsible for the attack have not been independently established, although local accounts and Amnesty International attributed the assault to suspected Boko Haram fighters.
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