Zabarmari Massacre: Beheaded Farmers Were Not Cleared To Work On Rice Farm- Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu has claimed that the rice farmers that were beheaded by suspected Boko Haram Insurgents were not cleared to work on the rice field.

Shehu who made this known while speaking with the BBC held that the farmers were supposed to have obtained clearance from the military before starting activities on the field.

READ ALSO: Buhari Expresses Grief As Boko Haram Beheads 43 Farmers In Borno

Revealing that the Buhari-led federal government was unhappy with the incident, Sani who said that most of the areas had retaken from the Boko Haram insurgents explained that some areas had not been certified okay for villagers to return.

“The truth has to be said. Was there any military clearance from the military who are in total control of the area? Did anybody ask to resume activity?

“So ideally, all of these places ought to probably be allowed to pass through proper military clearance before resettlement or even farmers resuming activities on those fields,” he said.

Sani's comment is coming less than 48 hours after suspect members of the Boko Haram insurgent group attacked Zamarbari local government area of Borno state.

Recall that AllNews had on Saturday reported that President Buhari who expressed his displeasure over the attack revealed that the Nigerian military had been given needed support to ensure that the lives and properties of citizens are safe.

Also reacting to the development, former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode who was angered by the attack pointed out that Abubakar Shekau and other Boko Haram insurgents must be crushed.

Publisher of Sahara Reporters and the Presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) at the 2019 Presidential election, Omoyele Sowore also said that Buhari, not service chiefs should be sacked.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar while reacting to the incident also suggested that the Nigerian security system be rejigged.

While there are still difficulties ascertaining the number of casualties recorded, Amnesty International revealed that 10 other female rice farmers were missing while 16 others were internally displaced.