43 Farmers Killed By Boko Haram Didn’t Have Military Clearance To Farm — Presidency

The Presidency on Monday, said the 43 farmers that were killed by Boko Haram did not have military clearance to be on the rice farms when the attack happened.

The government, however, said this was not to blame the victims, rather the truth must be said.

Ekohotblog recalls that they were beheaded on Saturday in Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, made this known during an interview with the BBC on Monday.

“The government is sad that this tragic incident has happened. 43 or thereabout of innocent farm workers, most of them had their throats slit by a heartless band of terrorists. People need to know what it is like in the Lake Chad Basin area.

“Much of those areas have been liberated from Boko Haram terrorists but there are a number of spaces that have not been cleared for the return of villagers who have been displaced. So, ideally, all of these places ought to pass the test of military clearances before farmers or settlers resume activities on those fields,” Shehu said.

Read also: Borno Farmers’ Killing: Farmers Send SOS To Govt For Adequate Protection

The President’s spokesman said terrorists had planted land mines in several places in Borno State and nobody ought to go to these places until the military has cleared such places.

“The military is not present in every inch of space in that area. Even if the people are willing to go back, a lot of those areas have been mined and mine clearance needs to be carried out and those areas must be cast as being ok for human habitation or agricultural activity,” he added.