They went in search of firewood, but ended up being slaughtered like animals. This was the pathetic lot that befell about five Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
A member of the local vigilance in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno, said the IDPs had to be declared missing after they did not return from their outing.
The member, Abu Damboa said he and his colleagues then embarked on a search-and-rescue operation, according to reports.
“We got the report to that some IDPs were missing. So, we swung into action but later found five of them beheaded two kilometers away from the scene where they were falling trees.
“It was disheartening to see fellow human beings slaughtered like animals, they were all displaced persons, “Abu said.
Humanitarian sources said the incident happened on Sunday afternoon, adding that the victims have been buried according to Islamic rites.
“Information received was that eight IDPs who went in search of firewood outside Damboa town some 6-8kms were abducted.
“Five dead bodies out of the eight missing IDPs were recovered this morning,” a humanitarian source revealed.
The news of IDPs being slaughtered is is coming less than 24 hours after the Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, gave a marching order to the troops to reclaim some communities under the control of the insurgents in Borno State.
Incidences of human displacement exacerbated by armed conflicts had been prevalent in the north east area especially in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
The World Food Programme for example, estimates that . 3.4 million people face acute hunger and 300.000 children suffer from acute malnutrition in the area.
“Violence and insecurity are causing mass movements of people, with 1.75 million living in camps or host communities within Nigeria and tens of thousands seeking refuge in neighbouring countries”, a report by the programme asserts.
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It says the countries affected include Cameroon, Chad and Niger, and that many of those who left the country were now returning, needing food and shelter.
