by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - At least 110 farmworkers were slaughtered in a single attack in Nigeria’s Borno state Saturday by terrorists believed to be members of Boko Haram, the Christian Post reports. Armed men on some 60 motorbikes gunned down the rice field workers in what a UN official described as “the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year.”
At least five churches were also destroyed in the attack, including buildings belonging to the Church of the Brethren denomination, an Anglican Communion church, and a church and a separate office of Living Faith Church, the Christian Post reports.
Nigeria has become one of the most dangerous countries in the world: the United Nations estimates that over 3.4 million people have been displaced because of Islamic extremist violence in the northeast and violence in the country’s Middle Belt.
Although Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the killing of “our hard-working farmers by terrorists in Borno state,” he has been widely criticized for his inaction in the face of ongoing rampant terrorist activity by Boko Haram, ISIS and Fulani extremists in his country. Murderous violence by Boko Haram factions against civilians continues to increase and Islamic Fulani militants continue to target and slaughter Christians, specifically, with apparent impunity.
Referencing Saturday’s atrocity that took place in the village of Koshobe and other communities near the northeast city of Maiduguri, Edward Kallon, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, said: “I am outraged and horrified by the gruesome attack against civilians. At least 110 civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in this attack. I call for the perpetrators of this heinous and senseless act to be brought to justice.”