Suspected fighters of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have attacked Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, leaving an unspecified number of civilians, soldiers, and insurgents dead.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, confirmed the incident during an interview in Maiduguri on Thursday. He disclosed that more than 100 residents were either missing or abducted, while thousands—mostly women and children—have fled to Pulka community for safety.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday evening, targeted Ngoshe, a community recently resettled around the Mandara Mountains after years of displacement due to insurgency.
According to Ndume, although details remain sketchy, reports indicate that several fleeing insurgents were neutralised by the air component of Operation Hadin Kai, the Joint Task Force North-East. However, he lamented that the Chief Imam of Ngoshe, some community elders, and security personnel were among those killed.
“The military base in the community was dislodged, with major equipment destroyed. Homes and properties worth millions of naira were also set ablaze,” the senator said.
Security sources revealed that the attackers struck shortly after residents broke their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, reportedly overwhelming the military formation with superior firepower.
Ndume called for intensified military operations in the Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains, urging the Federal Government to sustain Operation Desert Sanity V, which he said had begun yielding results.
He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide security agencies with additional fighter jets and modern military hardware to end persistent terrorist attacks in the North-East. The senator also expressed concern over what he described as inadequate frontline equipment, including a shortage of Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and advanced weapons.
Despite the challenges, Ndume commended the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Borno State government under Governor Babagana Zulum for their continued sacrifices in combating insurgency, noting that ongoing efforts have enabled the resettlement of many internally displaced persons across liberated communities.
Meanwhile, community leaders have called for urgent humanitarian assistance for displaced Ngoshe residents now sheltering in Pulka. In a joint appeal on social media, Malam Idrissa Hamman and Engineer Aliyu Shehu, coordinating relief efforts under the Gwoza Youth Forum, urged donations of food, clothing, blankets, and other essential supplies to support affected families.
