Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have abducted more than 100 women and children during an attack on Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State on Wednesday, March 4.
Daily Trust reports that during the attack, soldiers, the chief imam of the town and community elders were k!lled by the assailants who carried out the attack after Muslims broke their fast.
Local and security sources said the terrorists first att@cked a military base belonging to the 82 Division Task Force Battalion before storming the community and an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp.
A security source said the attackers overpowered the troops due to their large numbers and later went into the town where they carried out the mass abduction.
“The militants invaded a military base of 82 Division of TF Battalion. They also launched an assault on the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in the community,” said one of the sources
He said the terrorists overpowered the troops due to their large numbers and went after the fleeing troops, ransacking the community and surrounding bushes.
“We cannot ascertain the actual number of soldiers and civilians killed but nine bodies of soldiers have been recovered so far,” he said.
He said the assailants also burnt armoured tanks and military vehicles and made away with unquantifiable ammunition.
“Residents have fled Ngoshe town to the adjoining town, Pulka. The attack is very devastating considering that refugees have started returning from Cameroon,’ one other source said.
He alleged that informants might have played a role in the coordinated attack
“It’s not possible to carry out such an attack without information from within us. The chief imam and some elders were slaughtered by the terrorists, and over 100 women and children were abducted or missing” he said
