MAIDUGURI — A brutal night raid by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists on the Ngoshe community in Gwoza has left a trail of death, with soldiers and recently returned refugees among the victims.
The insurgents launched the assault at approximately 7:30 pm on Tuesday, targeting a military formation and a settlement of civilians who had only recently returned to their ancestral homes after a decade in displacement camps.
Massacre and Desecration
Sources from the area describe a scene of carnage, reporting that the attackers overran military positions and slaughtered several personnel. In a particularly gruesome display of violence, the terrorists reportedly targeted the community’s Chief Imam and several elders, while setting fire to the homes of the resettled inhabitants.
Eyewitness accounts claim the attackers used derogatory religious slurs against the victims, vowing to “wipe out” those they labeled as unbelievers. The raid has completely upended the fragile peace in the Christian-majority enclave, which has long been a flashpoint in the Gwoza Local Government Area.
Over 100 Abducted
Beyond the killings, the terrorists reportedly abducted over 100 residents, mostly women and children, dragging them into the surrounding Mandara Mountains. The town, which had been a symbol of the state’s reconstruction and resettlement success, now lies in ruins as thousands of survivors flee toward Pulka and Gwoza town.
Air Force Retaliation
In a swift counter-offensive, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai deployed fighter jets to intercept the fleeing insurgents. Precision strikes on the withdrawal routes resulted in the neutralisation of over 50 terrorists.
“The coordinates were precise, and the impact was devastating,” a military source confirmed. “We have decimated the group responsible for the Ngoshe atrocity, but the search for the abducted remains our top priority.”
Rising Outrage
The attack has triggered a wave of anger across the country, with critics questioning the “rehabilitation” and “settlement” policies of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the military high command.
While the military maintains that the Gwoza axis is being cleared, the presence of the terrorists’ black flags in the Mandara hills continues to challenge the claim of total territorial control.
