A terror group has claimed responsibility for the deadly assault on Ngoshe community in Gwoza, where several soldiers and civilians were reportedly killed and hundreds of residents abducted during a late-night attack earlier this week.
The attackers stormed Ngoshe on Wednesday night, setting a military base on fire and unleashing gunfire across the community. Several houses and shops were also burned during the raid, forcing residents to flee in panic.
In a video obtained on Friday, five armed men appeared on camera claiming responsibility for the attack. Speaking in Hausa on behalf of the group, one of the men declared that the militants had taken control of the community and intended to remain there.
The spokesperson in the footage said the group had successfully carried out the operation and was already inside the central mosque in Ngoshe.
According to him, the militants planned to occupy the town and celebrate the forthcoming Eid-el-Fitr prayers there after the Ramadan fasting period.
He further claimed that the attackers killed several residents during the assault and abducted many others, adding that some captives were taken with the intention of enslaving them.
The group also threatened to expand its activities beyond the community, warning that future attacks could target Maiduguri and Abuja.
Disturbing footage circulating online also showed scenes from the attack, including victims reportedly killed during the raid.
Following the incident, many residents fled Ngoshe and dispersed into neighbouring communities for safety. Survivors said they escaped hurriedly, leaving behind their belongings as the attackers rampaged through the town.
Residents have also raised concerns about elderly individuals and bodies allegedly left behind in the village after the attackers forced people to flee.
The assault reportedly lasted several hours before the air component of Operation Hadin Kai was deployed to the area, forcing the attackers to retreat into nearby forests.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, said several residents were still unaccounted for.
He explained that while the exact number of casualties remained unclear, some civilians were killed and others were believed to have been abducted and taken towards the Mandara Mountains.
Meanwhile, the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, said authorities were still working to verify the number of victims.
Tar added that displaced residents had been relocated to Pulka, another town within Gwoza Local Government Area, where emergency assistance was being provided.
According to him, the Borno State Emergency Management Agency had already delivered relief materials including rice, sugar, millet and blankets to affected residents.
He also noted that healthcare and sanitation teams had been deployed to the area to prevent possible disease outbreaks while security forces continue operations to secure the corridor for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
