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Suspected Boko Haram fighters are feared to have killed an unspecified number of civilians and abducted several women after launching an overnight assault on a military base in the Ngoshe community, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attackers reportedly struck the military position around 1 a.m. on Wednesday before moving into the community, where they targeted residents.
Witnesses said the assailants, who arrived on motorcycles and gun trucks, operated in the area for several hours during the raid.
Confirming the incident on Thursday, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said preliminary reports indicated that some residents had been killed while others were still missing following the attack.
Daso said security forces were able to repel the insurgents from the military base but noted that civilians were also affected during the violence. He explained that the number of casualties had not yet been confirmed and that several people were unaccounted for, with indications that some may have been taken by the attackers toward the Mandara Mountains.
“Suspected terrorist group attacked a military base in Gwoza around 1 am on the 4th. The military were able to repel them.
“Although an unknown number of civilians yet to be ascertained were also affected and killed. Some are still missing and probably some were abducted and taken towards the Mandara Mountains.”
He added that investigations were ongoing to identify those missing, including reports that the community’s chief imam may have been affected.
According to him, the situation in Ngoshe had since stabilised, with the military taking control of the area to prevent further attacks.
Local residents who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed the assault was intense and alleged that nine soldiers were killed when the insurgents overran the military position before launching attacks on civilians.
“When they entered Ngoshe town, they first attacked the military base there and killed nine soldiers. They killed and abducted mostly women.”
One resident said the large number of attackers gave them an advantage over the troops stationed in the area, allowing them to breach the community and abduct several women.
Another resident said many villagers fled to the nearby town of Pulka for safety.
The Residents also alleged that parts of the town were set ablaze by the attackers as they withdrew. They have called on the authorities to strengthen security presence in the area to prevent a recurrence.
