Residents of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State have raised concerns over the fate of elderly residents and several corpses allegedly left behind following an attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
Survivors of the assault, now dispersed across various communities within the local government area, said they fled their homes in panic without belongings while escaping the violence.
The attack reportedly occurred in the early hours of Wednesday when insurgents stormed a military base in the community before turning their attention to civilians.
According to eyewitnesses, the attackers arrived at about 1 a.m., firing sporadically for several hours. The situation was later brought under control after the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai reportedly intervened, forcing the insurgents to retreat into nearby forests.
The spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed the incident, stating that several residents were still unaccounted for.
He noted that while the number of civilian casualties had yet to be determined, some residents were believed to have been killed, while others were still missing or possibly abducted and taken toward the Mandara Mountains.
Speaking with journalists on Thursday, the District Secretary of Ngoshe, Shuaibu Dabawa, alleged that more than 300 residents were abducted during the attack.
Dabawa explained that residents fled into nearby bushes after hearing gunshots and spent the night hiding for safety.
“When the attack began, we heard heavy gunfire and immediately ran into the bush where we stayed throughout the night,” he said.
“More than 300 people were abducted by the terrorists during the attack. At the moment, there is no military presence in Ngoshe, which is causing serious security concerns.”
He also expressed fears for elderly residents who were reportedly unable to escape, adding that several bodies were left behind in the deserted community.
“Our immediate concern is that some elderly people are still trapped in the town alongside several corpses. Many residents fled with nothing except the clothes they were wearing, leaving the community completely deserted,” Dabawa said.
He added that many families were separated during the chaos, while others remained unaccounted for.
According to him, displaced residents are now scattered across surrounding areas, with some taking refuge in open spaces while others have sought shelter at Central Primary School in Pulka.
Dabawa appealed for urgent military reinforcement and humanitarian assistance, particularly food support for affected families.
Another survivor, Amina Halidu, also called for urgent intervention, noting that many displaced persons were facing severe hardship.
“We are especially worried about the elderly people who could not run when the attack started,” she said.
“Many displaced residents, including women and children, are currently taking refuge at Central Primary School in Pulka, where they are battling hunger and harsh weather conditions.”
Efforts to obtain an update from the spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
The military has yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
