An unidentified armed group has claimed responsibility for the deadly assault on Ngoshe, a community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, where dozens of soldiers and civilians were reportedly killed and hundreds of residents abducted.
The attack, which occurred late Wednesday night, left the community in chaos as gunmen stormed the area, setting fire to a military base and destroying homes and shops. Residents were forced to flee in different directions to escape the violence.
In a video circulating on Friday, five armed men believed to be members of the group declared that they had taken control of the town and intended to make it part of their territory.
Speaking in Hausa in the footage, one of the men claimed the attackers had successfully seized the community and planned to remain there. He also stated that they intended to observe the upcoming Eid al-Fitr prayers at the central mosque in Ngoshe after the Ramadan fasting period.
The speaker further alleged that many residents were captured during the operation, while others were killed. According to him, the group planned to keep some of the abducted individuals as captives.
The attackers also threatened to expand their operations to other major cities, including Maiduguri and Abuja.
Following the raid, survivors from Ngoshe scattered across nearby communities, abandoning their homes and personal belongings while seeking safety.
Some residents expressed concern over the fate of elderly villagers who could not escape quickly during the attack, as well as bodies reportedly left behind in the deserted community.
Security sources said the attack lasted for several hours before troops from Operation Hadin Kai deployed air support to push the attackers away from the area and into nearby forests.
The spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, confirmed the incident and said authorities were still working to determine the number of casualties.
He explained that several residents remain unaccounted for, while others are believed to have been taken toward the Mandara Mountains.
Meanwhile, the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, stated that officials were still verifying the exact number of victims.
Tar disclosed that the state government had begun providing emergency assistance to displaced residents who have taken refuge in Pulka, another town within the local government area.
He added that relief materials including rice, sugar, millet, and blankets were being distributed to affected households through the Borno State Emergency Management Agency.
According to the commissioner, healthcare workers and sanitation officials have also been deployed to the area to prevent the outbreak of diseases among displaced residents.
Authorities say security forces remain on alert as efforts continue to restore stability and support communities affected by the attack.
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