ZABARMARI:The Boko Haram jihadist group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a brutal massacre of farm workers in northeast Nigeria over the weekend as the death toll rose to 76.
The grim search for bodies continues after gunmen on motorbikes attacked the area outside Borno state's capital Maiduguri on Saturday, slaughtering dozens of labourers in rice fields near the village of Zabarmari.
It was initially unclear which Boko Haram faction was behind the assault, but the main group loyal to shadowy leader Abubakar Shekau said in a video Tuesday it was "responsible for what happened around Maiduguri in recent days... especially in Zabarmari."
Borno state information commissioner Babakura Abba Jatau meanwhile said the death toll had risen from 70 to 76.
"Forty-three bodies were buried on Sunday and another 33 were buried on Monday," he told AFP, adding that the death toll could rise further.
"Residents of Zabarmari village where the victims were buried said many more bodies could be scattered in the marshy rice fields."
The United Nations on Sunday said that 110 civilians were killed, but later scaled that back to "tens" of victims, admitting its initial toll was "unconfirmed".
The bloodletting centred on the village of Koshobe, where Boko Haram fighters tied up farm workers and slit their throats.
The Boko Haram video appeared to confirm reports that the attack was waged to seek revenge on villagers for seizing the group's fighters and handing them over to the authorities.
"You thought you would apprehend our brethren and hand him over to the military and live in peace?" a Boko Haram jihadist said in the video.
On Tuesday local teams continued the search for bodies, ploughing through the expansive marshland on foot, trudging behind tractors.
"It is a tiring job because regular vehicles can't move in the difficult terrain because they will definitely get stuck," said Abdullahi Umar, a member of the search team.
He described the search as "dangerous" because Boko Haram insurgents operate in the area, which has footpaths that link up to the group's Sambisa forest enclave.
At least 36,000 people have been killed and two million displaced since Boko Haram launched its jihadist insurgency in northeast Nigeria in 2009.
In 2016, the group split into two groups -- the main faction led by Abubakar Shekau and the IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Both groups have been blamed for increasing attacks on civilians they accuse of spying for the army and pro-government militia.
The jihadist violence has also spread into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, prompting a regional military coalition to fight the insurgents.
AFP RELAXNEWS
Wed Dec 02 2020
Forty-three farm workers were buried at a mass funeral after the Boko Haram attack in northeastern Nigeria. AFPRelaxpic
Nasihat Wan Rosdy kepada ahli UMNO: “Ikhlas sertai parti, buang sikap pentingkan diri”
Sikap pentingkan diri menjadi masalah dalaman parti dan andai dibiarkan boleh merosakkan keutuhan UMNO.
Tentera Israel arah penduduk Palestin berpindah dari Rafah
Arahan berpindah itu dikeluarkan menerusi risalah yang digugurkan dari udara.
Bas terbalik di lebuh raya PLUS, 41 penumpang terselamat
Seramai 41 penumpang termasuk pemandu terselamat setelah bas persiaran yang dinaiki mereka terbabas lalu terbalik di kilometer 264.5 lebuhraya utara selatan (PLUS), arah selatan hari ini.
Wartawan baharu perlu aktif turun padang, elak ‘cerita’ disampaikan hambar
Pengamal media perlu aktif turun lapangan bagi mencari bahan berita lebih tulen tanpa perlu bergantung sepenuhnya kepada maklumat diperoleh atau dikongsikan melalui media sosial.
AWANI Ringkas: Dijangka catat dagangan dalam julat kecil
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Laporan Amerika dedahkan Israel salah guna bantuan senjata
Pentadbiran Joe Biden mendapati Israel menggunakan bantuan senjata dari AS tanpa mengikut lunas undang-undang antarabangsa.
Peningkatan perdagangan borong, runcit bukti ekosistem ekonomi segar, progresif - Armizan
Nilai jualan perdagangan borong dan runcit yang meningkat sebanyak 5.2 peratus pada Mac tahun ini menunjukkan ekosistem perekonomian domestik negara berada dalam keadaan segar dan progresif.
Bas terbalik di lebuh raya PLUS, 41 penumpang terselamat
Bas pesiaran membawa penumpang dari Kupang, Kedah terbalik di KM264.5 Lebuh Raya Utara Selatan (PLUS), arah selatan.
Bayi sembilan bulan, ibu antara tiga maut dalam kemalangan di Semporna
Seorang ibu bersama bayi dan seorang warga emas wanita maut dalam kemalangan melibatkan dua kenderaan, pada Sabtu.
Perbincangan perjanjian pandemik diteruskan selepas tarikh akhir: WHO
Kerajaan-kerajaan di seluruh dunia bersetuju lanjutkan perbincangan selama dua minggu lagi mengenai perjanjian penting berhubung pengendalian pandemik masa depan.
Lebih 100 pelajar Nigeria berjaya diselamatkan tentera
Tentera Nigeria telah menyelamatkan pelajar dan kakitangan yang diculik oleh lelaki bersenjata dari sebuah sekolah di utara negara itu.
10 terbunuh dalam serangan Boko Haram
Organisasi pengganas itu menyasarkan pekerja di ladang, dengan sembilan lagi mangsa diculik.
Boko Haram dakwa tembak jatuh jet tentera udara Nigeria
Dalam video dipercayai daripada Boko Haram, tertera tulisan "NAF 475" pada bangkai pesawat yang hangus terbakar.
Lebih 300 murid diculik militan Boko Haram dibebaskan
Kesemua 344 kanak-kanak itu telah dibawa pulang oleh pihak keselamatan.
50 lelaki bersenjata serbu kampung, culik 15 gadis
Seramai 15 remaja perempuan telah diculik oleh sekumpulan lelaki bersenjata dalam kejadian di tenggara Niger, pada Sabtu.
Cameroon tubuh pusat latihan vokasional untuk bekas pejuang Boko Haram
Beliau membuat pengumuman itu di pangkalan pasukan petugas multinasional di Mora yang terletak dalam rantau Utara Jauh, Cameroon ketika bertemu kira-kira 100 bekas pejuang Boko Haram.
Nigeria sabitkan 205 suspek anggota Boko Haram
Sabitan ke atas sejumlah 205 individu dalam perbicaraan beramai-ramai itu menandakan tamatnya peringkat kedua cabaran perundangan terbesar di Nigeria terhadap Boko Haram.
Boko Haram bebas 13 tebusan kepada kerajaan Nigeria
Tiga daripada tebusan itu adalah pensyarah dari Universiti Maiduguri yang diculik semasa perjalanan penjelajahan minyak di Magumeri, di timur laut Borno, pada Julai 2017.
50 maut dalam serangan bunuh diri di Nigeria
Tiada pihak mengaku bertanggungjawab, namun polis percaya serangan didalangi puak pelampau Boko Haram.
Serangan bom di Nigeria, 18 terbunuh
Kejadian berlaku kira-kira pukul 8.15 malam waktu tempatan, pada Rabu, selepas empat orang dipercayai pengebom bunuh diri meluru masuk ke kawasan tempat masyarakat Islam sembahyang di Muna Gari.