By Martin Paul, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep grief over the gruesome killing of rice farmers at Zabarmari community in Jere Local Government Area of Borno state on Saturday night, calling the act as barbaric and insane.

The President, in a statement Sundayday in Abuja, said government had given all the needed support to the armed forces “to take all necessary steps to protect the country’s population and its territory.

 In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the President further added:  “I condemn the killing of our hardworking farmers by terrorists in Borno State.

About 43 farmers were murdered while an unspecified number of others were unaccounted for when Boko Haram insurgents launched attacks on rice fields at Zabarmari.

Nine of the victims were believed to be settlers in search of greener pasture from Zamfara, seven from Kebbi and eight from Sokoto State, while the remaining were indigenes of Zabarmari town.

Zulum, Others Bury 43 Farmers

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, was at Zabarmari early Sunday led by kinsmen and other residents, still in shock for the funeral of 43 farmers slaughtered by Boko Haram insurgents in Koshebe on Saturday night.

Though the victims lived in Zabarmari is a farming community in Jere local government area, famous for rice cultivation and local processing, they were attacked  at Koshebe village in Mafa Local Government Area of the state.

Zulum, during his visit was told that death toll was yet to be fully ascertained.

“Your Excellency, as you have seen here, 43 corpses were buried, but others have not been retrieved from the scene of the incident. Nobody can tell you the exact number of people killed. Some of the victims are still missing” a resident (name concealed, told the governor).

Addressing the community, Zulum said: “First of all, accept my deepest sympathy over this carnage that affects all of us and every human with conscience. I am told some persons are still missing. We have been discussing with the military since yesterday, Insha Allah the remaining people will be traced soon.”

He told journalists that “it is disheartening that more than 40 citizens were slaughtered while they were working in their farmlands. Our people are in very difficult situations, they are in two different extreme conditions, in one side they stay at home they may be killed by hunger and starvation, on the other, they go out to their farmlands and risk getting killed by the insurgents. This is very sad.

“We are still appealing to the Federal Government to ensure recruitment of more youths in the CJTF and hunters into the Nigerian military and the Civil Defence so that they can form part of the agro rangers that will protect farmers.

“We need many boots to protect farmlands and our youths understand the terrain. We will not lose hope because we have to remain optimistic about ending the insurgency” Zulum said.

 10 Women Still Missing –Amnesty International

Meanwhile, Amnesty International, has revealed that 10 women working in the Kwashaba rice farm were still missing.

In a tweet yesterday, Amnesty said 16 out of the 43 farmers were actually Internally Displaced Persons.

The tweet read in part: “Amnesty International’s findings show that, of the 43 farmers slaughtered by Boko Haram yesterday, 16 were Internally Displaced Persons resident at Farm Centre IDP Camp while 10 women working in Kwashabe rice farm are still missing after the attack.”

“Last month Boko Haram militants slaughtered 22 farmers working on their irrigation fields near Maiduguri in two separate incidents, AI stated.

Time to Review Nigeria Security Architecture – Atiku

A former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,  has called on the Federal Government to take a look at the Nigeria Security Architecture with a view to rejigging it to the present situation in the country.

Atku, who reacted to the murder of 43 farmers by Boko Haram terrorists, said the Nigeria’s security architecture was overdue for consideration.

He expressed sadness over the tragic incident, even as he condoled with families of those affected.

On his Twitter page, Atiku wrote: “Heart-breaking. Words fail me. The lives of our citizens should worth much more than this.

“The rejig of the nation’s security architecture is long overdue. May their souls rest in peace and may their families be comforted.”