Killed Borno rice farmers didn’t get military clearance – Presidency

Presidency says the forty-three rice farmers killed in Borno over the weekend failed to get military clearance before returning to their farms.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, told BBC that the farmers should have waited for military clearance before proceeding to the farms.

Shehu explained that though the military is in full control of all parts of Borno, the farmers and residents ought to get clearance before visiting certain areas.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has condemned the killing and abduction of Zabarmari farmers.

Guterres, who extended his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, called for the immediate and safe return of the captives and expressed the hope that those responsible for the crimes will be quickly brought to justice.