Fourteen Nigerian fishermen met a gruesome end in Niger’s Diffa border district at the hands of Boko Haram militants on Sunday.
The victims, originally from the Nigerian towns of Malam Fatori and Doron Baga, had fled their homes to escape persistent violence. Seeking refuge in Niger, they turned to fishing to survive amidst the relentless threat of insurgent attacks.
According to Babakura Kolo, leader of a local vigilante group, the attackers slit the throats of all 14 fishermen in a brutal assault near Bosso, close to the Nigeria-Niger border. The group operates in the region, often targeting those they accuse of collaborating with military forces.
This tragedy occurred only a few kilometers from Malam Fatori, confirmed Ibrahim Liman of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF). The CJTF, a state-supported militia, works alongside Nigeria’s military to combat insurgents in the region.
Northeastern Nigeria has been embroiled in a deadly conflict for 15 years, leaving over 40,000 people dead and displacing two million more. The United Nations estimates 138,000 Nigerians have fled to Niger, relying on aid and resourceful means such as fishing and logging to survive.
Insurgent groups like Boko Haram and their rival faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have escalated attacks on civilians. Farmers, herders, and fishermen are often accused of spying for the military and face violent retaliation.
Earlier this year, ISWAP killed dozens of fishermen on Lake Chad’s Nigerian side, reportedly in revenge for military airstrikes. The lake, spanning four countries, remains a strategic base for both Boko Haram and ISWAP militants.
