Perceived members of the Boko Haram terrorist group Saturday, butchered at least 44 rice farmers while harvesting crops in northern Borno State of Nigeria.

According to reports obtained by Obinwannem News, Zabarmari, a Borno community known for rice farming, said the farmers were attacked as they were working on a rice field at Garin Kwashebe.

The farmers were rounded up by the terrorists and slaughtered one after the other, the report explained.

Furthermore, the report said the attack was ongoing while residents of the state were voting to elect a local government council officials, for the first time in 13 years.

However, Hassan Zabarmari, a former chairman of a rice farmers association in Borno State, confirmed the incident, said that some sources confirmed that the number of casualty was over 50.

He said, “It was a sad incident that took place at about 11 a.m today,” he said Saturday.

“The farmers were attacked at the Garin-Kwashebe rice field, and according to reports reaching us since afternoon, about 40 of them were killed.

“But we have been receiving conflicting information on the casualty figures, some said it was up to 50 farmers that were slaughtered.”

Also speaking, Ahmed Satomi, a member of House of Representatives, representing Jere federal constituency, also confirmed the incident in an interview journalists, said they were attacked because they had on Friday disarmed and arrested a Boko Haram gunman who had been tormenting them.

The lawmaker added that farmers and fishermen were killed in cold blood.

“We have so far received 44 corpses from the farms and we are preparing for their burials tomorrow by God’s grace,” he said.

Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obinwannem News