In less than 24 hours, suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed over 40 people in multiple attacks across Borno State, razing down houses and a church, The PUNCH reports.
The tragedy comes after Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to enhancing the capacity of its troops to neutralise ongoing threats to national security
One of our correspondents gathered that the Borno attack occurred in different locations between Kalabalge and Damboa Local Government Areas.
The PUNCH had reported that on Monday, around 12pm, 26 travellers ran over an Improvised Explosive Device suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram terrorists while traveling along the Kala-Balge road to Gamboru Ngala Local government Area of Borno State.
Confirming the incident to The PUNCH, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said the injured victims were still in the hospital.
He said, “Earlier today at about 12pm, an Isuzu pickup van with registration number XA265KKU drove all the way from Kalabalge area enroute Gamboru Ngala stepped on an IED around Furunduma village. The tragic incident led to the death of 26 persons, which includes 16 males and four females and six children.”
Seven hours later, around 7pm same day, the terrorists stormed a funeral gathering, shooting sporadically, reportedly killing about 15 mourners.
The incident occurred in Kwaple, a village near Chibok Local Government Area of the state.
The PUNCH learnt that the insurgents arrived on motorcycles and unleashed coordinated attacks that lasted for almost an hour without reprisal from security agents.
Confirming the attack, the Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area, Modu Mustapha, said, “The terrorists attacked during a funeral, a lot of people were killed.”
A local source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that 15 people died while many others were abducted.
“It was a horrific experience according to those who witnessed the shooting and killings. I was not there, but the information reaching me is that it was 15 people, mostly men, that died,” the source said.
“They burnt an Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria church in the area and about five houses, as well as other property,” the source added.
As of the time of filing this report, the identities and number of those abducted were still unknown as residents fled for safety.
Earlier this month, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, decried the renewed Boko Haram attacks, dislodgement of military formations and abduction of citizens in many communities almost on daily basis without challenge in the state, saying the government was losing ground in the war against the insurgents.
The Governor said the renewed attacks were a signal that the state was losing ground in the fight against the terrorists.
Zulum stated this at a special expanded security meeting attended by the General Officer Commanding 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Abubakar Haruna, Sector Commanders, Commissioner of Police and heads of other security agencies.
The Governor said, “It is unfortunate that the renewed Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings in many communities are almost on daily basis without confrontation, signaling that Borno State is losing ground.
“In as much as the Borno State Government under my leadership commends the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the security agencies for their unwavering support in the fight against Boko Haram, more efforts have to be put in place through equipping and deploying of technological warfare to the military to stem the tide of all renewed attacks bedevilling parts of the Sahelian Borno which shares international border with three African countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.”
Reacting to the recent attacks, Zulum expressed worry, adding that the state was not relenting but restrategising to curb the upsurge in terrorists’ attacks in the state.
The Senior Technical Assistant to the Borno Governor on Print and Digital Communication, Abdulrahman Bundi, told The PUNCH that the attacks reflected Zulum’s recent call to action.
“You can testify from the governor’s recent speeches and the alarm he has been raising. That tells you he has been worried and seriously concerned,” Bundi said.
“The governor has been working with the Federal Government and I can see renewed commitment to end all these things. He is supporting security agencies, helping them with intelligence, complimenting the effort of the Federal Government in providing needed facilities for the security agencies.
“He has been working closely with the Ministry of Defence and all other agencies to make sure that the security architecture is being restrategised to see that this thing is brought to an end.”
Commenting on the involvement of local vigilantes and civilian joint taskforce in the fight against the regrouping terrorists, he said the governor had purchased facilities that would ensure smooth operation
“As I speak to you, there are new facilities and patrol vehicles given to them, and they are being motivated to ensure that they work closely with the security agencies, helping them with local intelligence, and fighting alongside them. These and others are the kind of support the state government is providing.”
He urged the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state in every area possible.
“The state government currently needs whatever it takes to make sure that this thing is brought to an end. Anything it will take for Borno to have total peace, Borno State Government needs it.”
Weapons for troops
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, said the Army’s key priority was to enhance the capacity of the troops in the war against insurgency.
Oluyede made the statement in Bauchi on Monday during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Combat Arms Training Week co-hosted by the Nigerian Army’s Infantry and Armoured Corps.
“This will be done by infusing necessary capabilities into our training schedules to better prepare them to adapt to dynamic situations and position us more effectively to counter threats to national security.”
He emphasised that success in this regard hinged on providing timely logistics and prioritizing troop welfare.
The Army chief added that the Nigerian Army would continue to improve strategic communications, bridge capability gaps, sustain innovative leadership and leverage support from the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies.
Oluyede pledged the Army’s commitment to mitigating security challenges across the country, stating that it would continue to adopt new methods aligned with international best practices to strengthen operational capacity and fulfill constitutional responsibilities.
He added that the Combat Arms Training Week was more than a doctrinal exercise, describing it as a critical platform for improving operational effectiveness in conflict zones, particularly in the North East and North West.
“The lessons learned from the field, along with inter-corps collaboration fostered through this training week, will directly translate into more coordinated and impactful operations,” Oluyede said.
Also speaking at the event, Commander of the Armoured Corps, Major General Obinna Ajunwa, noted that this year’s training themed, ‘Strengthening Combat Arms Cooperation in a Joint Environment: A Prerequisite for Success in Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency Operations’, would provide a forum to address critical issues facing the combat arms and the Nigerian Army as a whole.
The Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, represented by his deputy, Auwal Jatau, stressed the need for both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, insurgency, and communal unrest.
“The current security challenges are complex and dynamic,” the governor said. “They demand multidimensional strategies and stronger synergy among security stakeholders.”(Punch)
