Suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed two vigilantes and ten firewood fetchers in Bokko Ghide community, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, in a brutal attack on Friday and Saturday, April 25–26, 2025. The Emir of Gwoza, HRH Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, confirmed the incident, detailing the devastating loss of life and its impact on the community.
According to the Emir, two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were ambushed and killed along Kirawa Road under Pulka District on Friday, April 25. The following day, ten civilians scavenging for firewood in a nearby bush were ambushed, with two others sustaining life-threatening injuries. “It’s very sad that two of my Civilian JTF members, who sacrificed their lives for my people, were also killed on Friday,” Timta said, adding that the ten firewood fetchers were buried according to their religious rites, and the injured were evacuated to Maiduguri for medical attention. He prayed for the departed to be granted “Janatul Firdaus” and for strength for the grieving community.
The attack, reported by Daily Trust, Punch Newspapers, and Leadership, has heightened fears in Gwoza, especially as the rainy season approaches. Timta noted that the renewed violence is demoralizing residents preparing for the cropping season, with many now too scared to visit their farmlands. “People are now scared to visit their farmlands, and it’s time for land preparation ahead of the rain proper,” he said, highlighting the potential impact on local agriculture. A resident, Ali Audu, told Punch that the attack “really shocked us,” adding that he knew three of the victims personally.
The Emir commended the Borno State government and military for their efforts in combating the Boko Haram insurgency, which has plagued the region for over a decade. However, he urged the deployment of advanced technological warfare, such as drones and sophisticated weapons, to curb the escalating attacks. “We know that government and the military have been doing their best in managing the over-decade Boko Haram crisis, but more efforts need to be done,” Timta emphasized.
The timing of the attack is notable, coming just 48 hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dispatched a high-level delegation, including Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, to assess Borno’s security situation. The Minister assured increased military support to address the region’s challenges, a commitment echoed in reports by ThisDay and Vanguard. However, the latest violence underscores the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram, with Leadership warning that unchecked attacks could undermine the state’s efforts to reconstruct and resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The Gwoza attack follows a pattern of renewed Boko Haram activity in Borno, with Sahara Reporters and Senator Ali Ndume reporting over 300 deaths in 252 attacks in the state over the past six months. Posts on X, such as those by @vanguardngrnews and @bulamabukarti, highlight the group’s shift toward kidnap-for-ransom and territorial control, further complicating security efforts.
As Gwoza mourns, the community’s call for enhanced military intervention reflects a broader urgency to restore safety and protect livelihoods in one of Nigeria’s most vulnerable regions.
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