At least 20 people have been killed in a fresh attack on Hambagda, a community a few kilometres from Gwoza town in Borno State, following suspected activities of Boko Haram insurgents.
The attack reportedly affected fish farmers and wood loggers who were working in the area when the violence occurred.
According to reports from the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), the incident happened around 11am on Thursday when an explosive device suspected to have been planted by terrorists detonated along a route in the Gwoza area.
A Civilian JTF source said:
“It is a sad day for us in Gwoza town, we lost about 20 loggers and several others sustained gunshot wounds.
“The terrorists planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on the route. After the explosions, they fired at the helpless civilians.”
The source added that the victims were mostly loggers who had gone into the bush to collect firewood to support their families.
So far, about 18 bodies have reportedly been recovered, while search efforts are still ongoing for others who are missing.
Residents warned that the death toll may still rise as some victims remain unaccounted for.
The attack has heightened fears in surrounding farming communities, especially as the planting season approaches, with renewed concerns over insecurity in the region.
