At least nine Nigerian soldiers and a community Chief Imam have been killed after suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters attacked Ngoshe town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Security sources said the assault occurred on Tuesday night shortly after residents ended their fast during the ongoing Ramadan period.
One security source who requested anonymity said the insurgents arrived in large numbers and carried heavy weapons. The source said the attackers targeted a military formation in the area and overpowered the troops during the confrontation.
Another source familiar with the incident said the fighters spread across the Ngoshe community during the attack. The source said the Chief Imam of the town was killed while more than 100 women and children were taken away by the insurgents. Several other residents also sustained injuries.
‘As I am speaking to you now, the entire people of Ngoshe have fled and nobody is left in the community. Most of us have taken refuge in Pulka,’ the source said.
The same source alleged that the attackers may have received assistance from someone within the community.
‘They came prepared and entered Ngoshe town with the help of an insider, killing 9 soldiers, slaughtering the mosque’s Chief Imam, and abducting over 100 women and children,’ he added.
Residents also reported that the insurgents burned large sections of the town before they withdrew from the area. The development forced many surviving residents to escape to nearby communities for safety.
Attempts to reach the spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Lt. Colonel Sani Uba, for official confirmation were unsuccessful as of the time this report was filed.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement regarding the attack.
