At least 23 farmers and fishermen have been killed by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in Malam Karanti village near Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, with 18 others reportedly kidnapped.

The deadly attack occurred on Thursday morning in the village, which is situated approximately five kilometers from Baga. According to sources, the terrorists gathered farmers and fishermen near the village before executing them.

"The terrorists spared an elderly man, who later alerted the community. The terrorists assembled people in Malam Karanti and killed them. Most of the victims were bean farmers," a source revealed.

Attempts by residents to recover the bodies of those killed were reportedly thwarted when ISWAP launched another attack, forcing the rescue mission to retreat.

"We tried to organise a rescue mission with security agencies to recover the victims' bodies, but the terrorists returned and prevented us. Many families are waiting for their loved ones," another source explained.

Malam Karanti is known to be an ISWAP-controlled area where civilians continue to farm and fish despite the significant security risks.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has assured residents of Borno State and the North-East region that the military is working intensively to combat the terrorists and eliminate them from their hideouts to end the ongoing crisis.

General Musa stated that the military is collaborating with friendly nations including Russia and France to deploy sophisticated weapons aimed at bringing the conflict to a swift conclusion.

He added that recharging the Lake Chad will enable troops to better navigate the Lake Chad axis to eliminate terrorists, particularly ISWAP fighters who have been exploiting the economic resources of the Chad Basin, such as fishing and farming activities, to strengthen their logistical capabilities.