Suspected fighters of Boko Haram have launched a deadly attack on a military base and an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Ngoshe town, Gwoza Local Government Area, leaving several soldiers and civilians dead while abducting more than 100 women and children.
Local residents and security sources said the heavily armed terrorists stormed the community on Wednesday evening shortly after Muslims broke their Ramadan fast.
According to security sources, the attackers first targeted a military formation belonging to the 82 Division Task Force Battalion before extending the assault to an IDPs camp within the town.
The militants reportedly overpowered the troops guarding the base, chased fleeing residents, and ransacked homes as well as nearby bushes.
“We cannot state the exact number of soldiers and civilians killed yet, but nine bodies of soldiers have been recovered so far,” one security source said.
During the attack, the insurgents were also said to have destroyed military assets, setting fire to armoured tanks and vehicles while carting away large quantities of ammunition.
Local sources further revealed that the attackers entered Ngoshe town, killed the community’s Chief Imam, and abducted more than 100 women and children.
Following the assault, many residents reportedly fled to nearby Pulka town for safety.
“The attack is devastating, especially as some refugees had only recently started returning from Cameroon,” a resident said.
Some community members also suggested that the coordinated nature of the attack may have been aided by informants within the area, though this claim has not been officially confirmed.
The latest incident underscores the persistent security challenges in Borno State, the epicentre of Nigeria’s long-running insurgency.
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