Escalation of Terrorist Attacks in Borno State
A recent attack on the Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State has left over 100 women and children abducted by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists. The assault, which occurred shortly after Muslims broke their fast on Wednesday, also resulted in the deaths of several soldiers, the chief imam of the town, and some community elders.
Local and security sources reported that the terrorists first attacked a military base belonging to the 82 Division Task Force Battalion before storming the community and an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp. A security source explained that the attackers overpowered the troops due to their large numbers and later went into the town where they carried out the mass abduction. “The militants invaded a military base of 82 Division of TF Battalion. They also launched an assault on the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in the community,” said one of the sources.
He added that the terrorists overpowered the troops due to their large numbers and went after the fleeing troops, ransacking the community and surrounding bushes. “We cannot ascertain the actual number of soldiers and civilians killed but nine bodies of soldiers have been recovered so far,” he said. He also mentioned that the assailants burnt armoured tanks and military vehicles and made away with unquantifiable ammunition.
Residents have fled Ngoshe town to the adjoining town, Pulka. The attack is very devastating considering that refugees have started returning from Cameroon, according to one other source. He alleged that informants might have played a role in the coordinated attack, stating, “It’s not possible to carry out such an attack without information from within us.”
Military Response and Ongoing Threats
Despite the tragic events, the Nigerian military has taken action against the terrorists. Army intercepts led to the killing of over 50 Boko Haram terrorists who had carried out the attack on a military base in Borno State. An online platform, Zagazola Makama, reported that the strikes were carried out by the Nigerian Air Force. The platform quoted military sources as saying the terrorists had attacked troops’ positions at about 7:30pm on March 3 before fleeing.
Following the attack, surveillance aircraft tracked the terrorists along their known escape routes and carried out precision strikes on their positions, killing more than 50, it was gathered. Security analysts attributed the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks on military locations to the military operations in Sambisa, Mandara mountain, and Lake Chad general area.
Impact on the Community
Residents of Ngoshe told our reporter that many of their loved ones fled to Pulka. One of them, Malam Umar, said: “You will see a mother crying, searching for her children and husband or children looking for their parents. The trauma of losing their homes and loved ones during this difficult time is quite devastating.”
Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) called for improved military operations in Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains. He condemned the attack and expressed sympathy for the families of those killed. “Unfortunately, soldiers, the chief imam of Ngoshe and some elders of the community were among those slaughtered or killed during the attack. The military base was dislodged with some major equipment destroyed, including residential houses and property worth millions of naira set ablaze.”
Timeline of Terrorist Attacks
Since the beginning of Ramadan, there have been multiple attacks by terrorist and bandit groups across various states. These include:
- March 1, 2026: Boko Haram terrorists attacked Forward Operations military Base (FOB) and killed its commander, Major UI Mairiga, three soldiers, and a hunter in Mayanti, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
- February 6: Four soldiers were killed in a Boko Haram ambush at Auno, near Jakana along the Maiduguri-Damaturu road in Borno State.
- January 5: At least nine soldiers were killed and several others injured when their convoy struck a landmine and came under Boko Haram terrorists fire.
- January 28: Boko Haram attacked military formation in Damasak and killed seven soldiers, including the commanding officer, who is also a major.
- January 30: The terrorists attacked Wajirko community along the Biu-Damboa Road in Borno State, killing 5 soldiers and 15 civilians.
- April 18, 2025: Boko Haram insurgents attacked resettled Yamtake community in the Gwoza LGA of Borno State, killing two soldiers and an unspecified number of civilians.
- August 11, 2025: The insurgents attacked Kirawa town in Gwoza LGA of Borno State, killing three soldiers and abducting a female schoolgirl, Aishatu Aja.
- October 20, 2025: The army confirmed the death of Lt.-Col Aliyu Saidu Paiko, the commanding officer of 202 battalion and other soldiers during encounters with Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
Humanitarian Crisis and Calls for Support
Gwoza youths have appealed for assistance for the victims of the Ngoshe attack. In a social media post, the Gwoza Youth Forum sought urgent support for displaced individuals in Pulka. Its chairman, Malam Idrissa Hamman, highlighted the need for basic necessities such as clothes, shoes, blankets, buckets, food items, and other essential household items.
Religious Condemnation of Violence
Islamic clerics have strongly condemned the violence, emphasizing the sanctity of life and the holiness of Ramadan. Dr Ibrahim Siraj, a Kano-based Islamic cleric, stated that Islam condemns killing as one of the gravest sins. He quoted from the Qur’an, explaining that whoever kills a believer intentionally faces eternal damnation.
Sheikh Halliru Maraya, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, noted that the rising wave of attacks by gunmen during Ramadan has no basis in Islamic teachings. He emphasized that these actions contradict the faith, as Islam does not condone violence or the taking of human life without a just cause.
