The United Nations has condemned the recent mass killing of civilians in the Kukawa region of Borno State, northeastern Nigeria.

In a statement, Mohamed Malick, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, called the murder of at least 40 civilians in the Dumba community on January 12, 2025, allegedly by a non-state armed group, “shocking.” The victims, primarily farmers and fishermen, were reportedly killed for allegedly violating a ban on agricultural activities imposed by the armed group.

Malick expressed condolences to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery to those injured, reiterating the UN’s support for the people and government of Borno State. He stressed the need for accountability, urging that those responsible be identified and face justice.

“Those responsible for these atrocities must be held accountable in accordance with both national and international human rights laws,” Malick stated.

The UN also highlighted that this attack is a grim reminder of the constant threats faced by civilians in conflict-affected regions of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states. The statement also pointed to several documented incidents of violence in 2024, including:

• In February 2024, hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs), mostly women, boys, and girls, were kidnapped by NSAGs in Ngala LGA, Borno, while they were gathering firewood outside the safety of the area.
• In June 2024, suicide bombings in Gwoza LGA, Borno, resulted in numerous civilian deaths and injuries.
• In July 2024, alleged NSAGs attacked farmers in the Firgi community, Gwoza LGA, killing unknown numbers of IDPs and abducting two women and seven teenage girls, though the girls were later freed.

These incidents underscore the ongoing dangers civilians face in the region as they struggle to survive amidst the conflict.