KANO – At least nine civilians have lost their lives in northeastern Nigeria following a brutal assault by suspected Boko Haram militants in Borno state, officials confirmed on Friday. The attack marks yet another chapter in the relentless insurgency that has plagued the region for over a decade.
The incident occurred on Thursday evening in the village of Gajibo, situated within the Dikwa district of Borno state. According to Rawa Gana Modu, the district’s political administrator, heavily armed Boko Haram fighters infiltrated the community on foot and began firing indiscriminately at residents.
“The Boko Haram insurgents killed nine people,” Modu told AFP. He specified that two of the deceased were members of a civilian anti-jihadist militia who were attempting to defend the village alongside government forces. “Several others” sustained injuries in the chaotic firefight, he added.
Responding swiftly to the attack, Nigerian troops stationed in nearby Dikwa—only six kilometers from Gajibo—rushed to the scene. The military engaged the insurgents in an intense gun battle, ultimately forcing them to retreat. According to Modu, approximately 10 militants were killed during the counteroffensive.
This violent ambush is a stark reminder of the persistent security challenges in Nigeria, particularly in the northeastern region. Borno state remains the epicenter of a long-standing jihadist insurgency fueled by Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Both extremist groups have been responsible for numerous deadly attacks in recent months, targeting rural villages, military checkpoints, and even humanitarian workers.
Jihadist Violence in Nigeria Claims Nine Lives in Borno State
Communities across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states have witnessed increasing levels of violence, with civilians often caught in the crossfire. Insurgents have raided military outposts, stolen weapons, and committed atrocities against farmers and fishermen, whom they accuse of collaborating with government forces. In several cases, entire villages have been ransacked, with homes and shops looted and set ablaze.
In a separate but related development, the Nigerian military confirmed that it had thwarted another attack by jihadists on a military base in Damboa, a town located roughly 180 kilometers from Dikwa. The attempted assault, which occurred the same day as the Gajibo incident, was met with fierce resistance from Nigerian forces.
A statement released via the military’s official X (formerly Twitter) account stated that 16 jihadists were killed during the two-hour-long gun battle. The defense operation was supported by fighter jets from the Nigerian Air Force, contributing to the successful repulsion of the attack.
The conflict in Nigeria’s northeast is now in its 16th year. Since its inception in 2009, the insurgency has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths and has displaced approximately two million people from their homes, according to figures from the United Nations.
The violence has spilled over Nigeria’s borders, destabilizing neighboring countries like Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. In response, a regional military coalition, including forces from all four nations, was formed to combat the spread of extremism and to restore peace to the Lake Chad Basin.
Despite periodic military successes and heightened security operations, Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to pose a grave threat to national and regional stability. Villages like Gajibo remain highly vulnerable, with residents often lacking adequate protection from extremist incursions.
The Nigerian government and its international partners have emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach that goes beyond military action. Addressing root causes such as poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and lack of access to basic services is seen as critical to undermining extremist recruitment and influence.
However, for the civilians of Borno and other affected areas in Nigeria, peace remains elusive. As communities continue to endure the trauma of repeated attacks, the call for urgent and sustained intervention grows louder.
