The Borno State Police Command has commenced a search for three farmers who went missing after suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed 15 others in a fresh attack in Marte Local Government Area of the state.

The victims were attacked while working on their farms and gathering firewood in Ala and Musune wards on Wednesday evening.

The police confirmed that 15 people were killed in the attack, while efforts were ongoing to establish the whereabouts of the missing farmers.

The Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, confirmed the incident to PUNCH on Friday.

“Yes, there was an attack in Marte. Fifteen people were killed while others are still missing. Efforts are ongoing to determine their whereabouts,” Daso said.

He said details of the incident remained sketchy, adding that the command would provide further information as more facts emerged.

Local sources told Saturday PUNCH that 18 farmers were attacked, with 15 bodies recovered from the scene and buried on Thursday according to Islamic rites.

The victims comprised young men, married men and elderly residents who had ventured into the bush to tend to their farms or gather firewood for their families.

A community source said the farmers were ambushed, tied up and executed at close range 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, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

The source added that some of the victims were decapitated, making them difficult to identify.

“So far, we have buried 15 out of the 18; we are currently searching for three persons,” the source added.

Amnesty International condemned the attack, describing the killings as horrific and a grave violation of international humanitarian law.

The organisation, in a statement on Friday, said the victims were residents who ventured into the surrounding bush to gather firewood to earn a living or cook for their families.

Amnesty International called on the Federal Government to take immediate steps to protect vulnerable communities in the North-East.

“The victims, who were 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 organisation stated.

It urged the authorities to take “immediate, transparent, and human rights-compliant measures” to protect communities living in the region.

Meanwhile, the police search for the three missing farmers was ongoing as of Friday.