Pope condemns Borno killings

Pope Francis has added his voice to the massacre of some 43 farmers in the Zabarmari community in Jere local government area of Borno over the weekend.

“I want to assure my prayers for Nigeria, where blood has unfortunately been spilled once more in a terrorist attack,” he said in his weekly general audience.

Remembering those who he said were “brutally killed”, he said: “May God welcome them in his peace and comfort their families, and convert the hearts of those who commit similar atrocities, which gravely offend his name.”

The massacre of the unarmed farmers has called for a more aggressive approach to loosening the grip of the terrorist group in the region.

The leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau early Wednesday claimed responsibility for the attacks.

In a video, Shekau stated the village was a target because the farmers in the community handed over a member of the sect to the Nigerian army.

He warned that those giving out intelligence on Boko Haram activities to the military will face the same fate, reports Information Nigeria.

According to him at least 78 farmers were killed in the bloody incident.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that Boko Haram fighters killed at least 43 farm workers and injured six in rice fields near Maiduguri, the Borno State capital on Saturday.

The assailants had reportedly tied up the agricultural workers and slit their throats.

“We have recovered 43 dead bodies, all of them slaughtered, along with six others with serious injuries,” militia leader, Babakura Kolo, told AFP.