The attack that killed at least 76 farmers on Sunday in the state of Borno, northeastern Nigeria, was claimed by Boko Haram on Tuesday (December 1). The faction led by Aboubakar Shekau says they carried out the massacre to avenge some of its warriors, which the villagers handed over to the authorities. This massacre also revived criticism of the military strategy pursued by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Anchored since the end of 2019 in “super camps”, better protected and probably more effective, the Nigerian army has left rural communities more vulnerable to attacks by jihadists.
Small farmers are on the front lines, while working in the fields is important to avert a serious food crisis in northeastern Nigeria.
The massacre last Saturday by Boko Haram has revived criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari and his loyal army chiefs. The Senate again requested that these senior officials be appointed as soon as their 2015 election was replaced.
But Nigerian analyst Confidence Owamninaemi is provoking “a lack of political will” and an army that “lacks the men and resources needed to carry out major operations”.
To compensate for this labor shortage, the governor of Borno State on Monday proposed hiring mercenaries to support the Nigerian army in its fight against the jihadist insurgency.
In 2015, just before the election, President Goodluck Jonathan acknowledged that he was calling for the services of “South African military experts” following the death of one of these men in northeastern Nigeria.
.
