The Nigerian Military Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole has indicated a terrifying possibility that Boko Haram terrorists might have poisoned water sources in some villages and communities of the North-East.
This was disclosed Wednesday in a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), 7Div Maiduguri, Col. Tukur Gusau.
Gusau said that the terrorists have now resorted to poisoning water sources like wells and streams in areas from where they were dislodged by gallant troops or areas threatened by offensive operations.
He confirmed: “The latest being the poisoning of the cattle water ponds in Kangallam village along Marte and Abadam axis in Borno State where a large number of cattle died after drinking water from the ponds”.
Meanwhile, the global human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, said that Boko Haram had killed at least 3,500 people since the beginning of 2015.
The group said that despite advances by the military, attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger had claimed the lives of at least 1,600 people since the start of June.
A statement on Wednesday by AI said the United Nations Human Rights Council was discussing a report on the conflict.
“The number of people killed so far this year is truly shocking with more than 3,500 civilian fatalities in less than 300 days,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International’s Africa Director for Research and Advocacy.
“Governments in affected countries must take all necessary legal measures to ensure the security of civilians in affected areas,” the statement added.
As the UNHRC discusses violations and abuses allegedly committed in the course of the conflict, AI renewed its calls for adequate protection of civilians from Boko Haram attacks.
