A recent assault by Boko Haram in the Gartamawa community of Chibok Local Government Area in Borno State resulted in the tragic loss of twelve lives, with two others sustaining injuries. Chibok LGA, situated approximately 125 kilometers away from the Borno State capital of Maiduguri, has been severely affected by terrorism for the past 14 years, with numerous abductions carried out by Boko Haram militants.
The Borno State Police Command confirmed the attack, which occurred on Monday evening, revealing that the assailants arrived in the community in a large number of Hilux vans and motorcycles, firing their weapons indiscriminately.
While specific details of the attack were not provided by the Police Public Relations Officer, reports from residents indicate that the terrorists targeted mourners, unleashing a hail of bullets upon them. In addition to the Gartamawa community, the nearby Tsiha community was also attacked, resulting in the loss of three lives, the abduction of a young woman, and the destruction and looting of property.
This incident follows the destruction of four electric towers along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway by the terrorists, marking another act of aggression in their ongoing campaign. Over the past two years, Boko Haram has expanded its attacks beyond its stronghold in northeast Borno State, targeting individuals such as farmers, loggers, herders, and fishermen, whom they accuse of collaborating with the military and local militias.
The 2020 massacre of 76 farmers from Zabarmari in the nearby Koshobe village stands as a grim testament to the group’s escalating brutality.
