Suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters have launched a deadly attack on Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, killing soldiers and civilians while abducting several women and children.
The assault reportedly began late at night when heavily armed insurgents stormed the area and targeted a military base stationed in the community. During the attack, the militants overran the base, setting parts of it on fire and forcing soldiers to retreat after intense fighting. Several soldiers were reportedly killed during the confrontation while others sustained injuries.
Residents said the attackers also moved through parts of the community, shooting sporadically and burning houses. Some civilians were killed in the violence while many others fled into surrounding bushes to escape the gunfire. The destruction left sections of the community damaged and forced families to abandon their homes overnight.
In addition to the killings and destruction, the insurgents reportedly abducted an unspecified number of women and children during the raid. Local sources said the victims were taken away as the fighters withdrew from the area after the attack.
Ngoshe, which lies close to Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, has been repeatedly targeted by insurgent groups due to its strategic location and the presence of military installations meant to secure nearby communities. Residents have often relied on both military protection and local vigilante groups to defend the town from attacks.
The latest assault highlights the continuing security challenges in northeastern Nigeria despite years of military operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP. Both groups remain active across parts of Borno State and have increasingly carried out raids on military formations and rural communities in recent months.
The insurgency, which began in 2009, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions across Nigeria’s northeast, while communities near the borders with Cameroon, Chad, and Niger remain among the most vulnerable to sudden attacks.
