On the issue of scrap metal scavengers killed by the terrorists in recent times, the Theatre Commander Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, Major General Christopher Musa has urged scrap metal collectors not to go beyond the area marked by security agencies for them while searching for scrap metals.
The Theatre Commander pointed out that there have been warnings and sensitisation going on with the locals, especially the villagers not to move beyond some boundaries and not to do business with the terrorists, 'they don't have any respect for human life'.
He said, the scarp metals collectors sneaked into the forest without the security agencies notice to search and pick some unexploded ordinances thinking its metal for sale.
"You do business with them. They turn around and Kill you simple". "Some of them still deal with these monsters and got eaten by them.
They were going for scrap metal, they too were struggling for Scrap metal, they met and something went wrong and they decided to kill them.
So that's why we tell people we have areas we have cleared, we told them don't move beyond this area but you see people still going to them secretly because you want to go and do one funny thing or the other and then you ended up getting killed", he said.
The Theatre Commander noted that military cannot be everywhere. Therefore, it is individual responsibility to stay safe, stay within the limit given.
He revealed that soldiers were being deployed to guide farmers to their farms so that there will be smooth farming.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abdu Umar said the victims usually sneaked into the forests from the towns without informing the security agencies for scrap metal collection.
Spye News reports that, no fewer than 13 scrap metal collectors, comprised of 11 male and 2 females lost their lives following an series of attacks coordinated by terror group Boko Haram in Nigeria's northeastern state of Borno.
Reports say, Boko Haram fighters attacked the group of scavengers on Saturday in Goni Kurmi in Bama Local Government Area in the state.
The Sources said that dozens of other people including women fled, most of them were Internally Displaced Persons seeking refuge in Bama, as the terrorists massacred the victims.
He said that the Boko Haram members believed to be from Gazuwa town, came on four Hilux vehicles, motorcycles while others on foot, surrounded before unleashing terror on them.
Boko Haram terrorists have repeatedly attacked metal scavengers accusing them of stealing abandoned properties in deserted communities.
The latest killing bring the death toll to 63 within the past four weeks.
On May 22, the insurgents killed 32 scrap metal collectors at Modu village in Kala-Balge Local Government Area while 23 others murdered at Mukdala village of Dikwa LGA, respectively.