Pope Francis has condemned the killing of scores of farmers and villagers in Borno, northeast Nigeria by suspected Islamist militants.
Pope Francis described the killing as a `terroristic massacre’ adding that it offended the name of God.
The Pope spoke of Saturday’s attack during his weekly general audience, held virtually in the Vatican because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
He promised to continue to pray for Nigeria, expressing sorrow at the latest attack.
About 43 rice farmers were beheaded in the attack, which began on Saturday morning in the village of Zabarmari, in the Jere local government area of Borno state.
The Pope prayed for the souls of the victims and for God to comfort their families.
He also prayed that God convert the hearts of those who commit such horrors, which gravely offend God’s name.
Boko Haram has since claimed responsibility for the attack that has attracted both local and international condemnation.
In his latest video released on Tuesday, which has now gone viral, Abubakar Shekau, leader of the sect, said 78 farmers were killed as against the 43 earlier reported.
Mr Shekau, who is wanted by the Nigerian government for the atrocities perpetrated by Boko Haram, claimed the farmers were killed for handing over one of their members to the Nigerian military.
The rice farmers were beheaded in the attack, which began on Saturday morning in the village of Zabarmari, in the Jere local government area of Borno state.
Report has it that the Islamist militants have killed at least 30,000 people since insurgency began in Borno State in 2009, before it spread to other parts of the northeast and beyond.
Several people have also been displaced from their ancestral communities, now live in decrepit internally displaced persons camps spread across the zone.
