…appeal for urgent security reinforcement to prevent further Boko Haram attacks.
Maiduguri, Nigeria — The iNews Times reports that a deadly Boko Haram attack on military base in Ngoshe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, left an unknown number of civilians dead and several women abducted in the early hours of Wednesday.i
Eyewitnesses said insurgents first targeted the military installation around 1:00 a.m., before moving on to assault residents, operating for hours using motorcycles and gun trucks.
Confirming the incident in an exclusive interview, ASP Nahum Daso, spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, said authorities were still assessing the full scale of the attack.
“Suspected terrorist group attacked a military base in Gwoza around 1am on the 4th. The military were able to repel them,” Daso said.
“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.”
Daso also clarified that reports of the Chief Imam’s death are yet to be confirmed.
“As of now, we have not finished getting the total number of those that were taken away, so if the Chief Imam is currently missing, we will verify and get back to you,” he added.
The police confirmed that the community is now calm, with troops securing the area following the Boko Haram attack.
Attempts to contact Lt. Col. Sanni Uba, spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, were unsuccessful.
Locals, however, claimed that nine soldiers were killed, and many residents fled the community in fear of further attacks.
“They attacked the base in large numbers. That gave them the advantage to overpower the soldiers stationed there and also made it easier for them to infiltrate the community and abduct many women,” an anonymous resident said.
“Many of our people ran to Pulka town to take refuge for fear of another attack.”
Residents also reported that insurgents set fire to substantial parts of Ngoshe as they retreated.
“When they entered Ngoshe town, they first attacked the military base there and killed nine soldiers. They killed and abducted mostly women,” another source recounted.
Community leaders have appealed for urgent security reinforcement to prevent further Boko Haram attacks in the area.
