Welcome

Tag: Borno State

  • Residents of Ngoshe Recount Three Months in Terrorist Captivity, Say They Survived on Guinea Corn

    Freed residents of Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State have shared disturbing accounts of their three-month captivity in the hands of terrorists, describing starvation, deaths and inhumane conditions during their ordeal.

    The victims, who were recently reunited with their families, were among hundreds abducted during a March 2026 attack on the community.

    Survivors Describe Harsh Living Conditions

    One of the survivors, Halima Musa, said the captives survived mainly on guinea corn, which was provided by their abductors but cooked by the victims themselves.

    She explained that food was limited to once a day, leaving them to endure long hours of hunger.

    “We ate only guinea corn, once a day. If you ate around 2 p.m., you would have to wait until the next day before eating again. Sometimes, there was no soup,” she said.

    According to her, the captives slept on bare floors in mountainous terrain and had limited access to water throughout their captivity.

    Children Died During Captivity

    Another freed captive disclosed that at least six children died while in captivity due to illness and poor living conditions.

    “While in captivity, we lost six children — two boys and four girls. They died after falling sick,” she said.

    Some of the victims also alleged that their abductors had a system of food distribution, suggesting possible supply networks supporting the group across different locations.

    One source said they observed food being dropped and redistributed, raising suspicions about organised logistics behind the terrorists’ operations.

    Mass Abduction and Release

    Recall that about 360 people were abducted during the attack on Ngoshe on March 4, 2026, with women and children making up the majority of the victims.

    Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum confirmed that a total of 357 captives were recently released, while others had regained freedom in smaller batches over time.

    According to the governor, the total number of those freed now stands at 434, following coordinated efforts involving security agencies and local vigilante groups.

    Government and Security Response

    Zulum commended President Bola Tinubu, the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Civilian Joint Task Force, forest guards, vigilantes and hunters for their roles in securing the victims’ release.

    He also announced plans for the rehabilitation of Ngoshe community and support for displaced residents, including food and medical assistance for those recently freed.

    The victims are currently undergoing medical evaluation and psychosocial support before being fully reintegrated into their communities.

    The incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity in parts of Borno State, where communities continue to face repeated attacks despite ongoing military operations.

  • Borno Govt Shuts School, Relocates Students After Terrorists Abduct 42 Children

    The Borno State Government has ordered the temporary closure of Government Day Secondary School, Mussa, in Askira/Uba Local Government Area following the abduction of 42 students and children by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

    The decision was announced by the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Lawan Wakilbe, during a visit to the affected community on Monday.

    School Relocated Over Security Concerns

    According to a statement issued by Governor Babagana Zulum’s spokesperson, Dauda Illiya, the school has now been relocated to Government Secondary School, Uba, under the state’s Safe Schools Initiative.

    The government said the relocation became necessary to ensure the safety of students and staff amid worsening security threats in the area.

    “As part of immediate safety measures under the Safe Schools Initiative, the commissioner directed the temporary closure of Government Day Secondary School, Mussa, and approved its relocation to Government Secondary School, Uba,” the statement said.

    The state government added that students would continue their education in safer and more secure conditions.

    Government Meets Parents, Community Leaders

    Before arriving in Mussa, the delegation reportedly paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ali Ibn Ismaila Mamza II, at his palace.

    In Mussa, officials were received by the Commanding Officer of the 115 Battalion, Askira, Lt. Col. Ishola Olufisola, alongside community leaders and parents of the abducted children.

    During an interactive session with parents, Wakilbe conveyed the sympathy of the Borno State Government and assured residents that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted students safely.

    Details Of The Abduction

    The abduction occurred on May 16 after suspected Boko Haram terrorists invaded Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School.

    Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, disclosed that the abducted victims included four students from the secondary school section, 28 pupils from the primary school and 10 children taken from nearby homes.

    The attack has renewed concerns over insecurity and repeated attacks on schools in parts of northern Nigeria.

  • APC Lawmaker Abdulkadir Rahis Shares ₦26m To Party Executives After Winning Primary

    The member representing Maiduguri Metropolitan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abdulkadir Rahis, has distributed cash gifts to 442 executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his constituency.

    The development comes days after Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan reportedly shared ₦135,650,000 among APC executives within the same constituency ahead of the Sallah celebration.

    Rahis Distributes ₦26 Million To APC Executives

    According to reports, Rahis shared about ₦26 million among party officials across Maiduguri Metropolitan.

    The lawmaker reportedly described the gesture as part of his tradition of supporting party loyalists, stakeholders and grassroots executives during festive periods.

    The event was attended by ward executives, supporters and APC stakeholders from different parts of the constituency.

    The cash distribution also came shortly after Rahis emerged winner of the APC primary election for the constituency.

    Rahis Eyes Fifth Consecutive Term

    The APC lawmaker secured 20,509 votes during the just-concluded primary election to retain the party’s ticket ahead of the 2027 general election.

    If re-elected, Rahis will be returning to the House of Representatives for a fifth consecutive term.

    Before becoming a federal lawmaker, he had also served five terms as chairman of the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.

    Mixed Reactions Trail Cash Distribution

    The development has triggered mixed reactions online, with some APC supporters praising the lawmakers for supporting party executives during the Sallah period.

    Others, however, criticised the public display and transportation of large sums of cash, questioning the growing trend of politicians openly distributing money to party loyalists.

    The latest development has further sparked conversations around political spending and party mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.

  • Terrorists Invade Borno School, Many Children Feared Abducted In Askira-Uba Attack

    Many schoolchildren are feared abducted after suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists invaded Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

    The attack reportedly occurred on Friday morning when the armed men stormed the school on motorcycles shortly after troops had left the community.

    Terrorists Strike Minutes After Troop Movement

    According to eyewitness accounts shared on social media, the attackers arrived barely 15 minutes after military personnel left the area, raising concerns that the movement of troops may have been monitored.

    In a post, Mr Solomon Mussa said schoolchildren were affected and called for urgent prayers as the situation unfolded.

    The Deputy Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Abdullahi Askira, who hails from the area, also confirmed the incident.

    “Yes, I can confirm to you that some suspected terrorists riding on motorcycles invaded primary and junior secondary schools in Mussa village this morning,” he said.

    Students Flee Into Bush Amid Chaos

    The lawmaker noted that many students reportedly fled into nearby bushes during the attack, although the exact number of those abducted remains unclear.

    He added that the timing of the invasion, shortly after troops withdrew, suggests the attackers may have been tracking military movements before striking.

    “It is also disheartening that the incident took place barely some few minutes after troops on patrol left the community,” he said.

    The police in Borno State were yet to issue an official response at the time of filing this report.

    Mussa village, located near the border of Sambisa Forest, has long been considered vulnerable due to its proximity to known insurgent hideouts.

    Growing Security Concerns in North-East

    The latest attack adds to ongoing concerns about renewed insurgent activity in parts of the North-East, especially in rural communities with limited security presence.

    Authorities are expected to provide further updates as investigations continue into the possible abduction figures and the current status of the affected students.

  • How Three Teenagers Hid a Bomb in a Food Flask to Attack Maiduguri Hospital

    Fresh details have emerged about the March 16 coordinated bombings in Maiduguri, Borno State, revealing how three teenage suspected suicide bombers disguised explosives inside a food flask and attempted to pass themselves off as relatives visiting patients at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital — a plan that was foiled by an alert security officer at the entrance gate.

    The attacks struck three crowded locations at approximately 7:05 p.m. — the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital entrance, the Post Office area, and Monday Market — at the height of the Ramadan evening rush. At least 23 people were killed, and 108 others were confirmed injured.

    How the hospital attack unfolded

    A security officer at the hospital, Ali Musa, said the three suspects arrived at the facility in a commercial tricycle, posing as relatives bringing food to patients. Musa said he had already tightened security at his post after receiving word of the earlier blast at the post office, and immediately noticed something was wrong when the suspects drove in at high speed rather than slowing down for the standard security check.

    “They were three in number — two boys and one rider of the tricycle. I think they were around 13 or 14 years old. They looked very unkempt. I suspected something was wrong with the way they drove in,” Musa said.

    When Musa ordered them to reverse, one of the suspects threw the food flask containing the concealed explosive device directly at him. Musa kicked the flask back toward them — and the device detonated. “I heard a loud explosion and immediately lay flat on the ground,” he said. A second explosion followed shortly afterwards near the hospital entrance.

    Musa sustained injuries in the blast and found his female colleague on the ground with a broken leg when he went to check on her. He also saw a young Almajiri boy lying nearby on the ground. A shop owner near the hospital entrance, speaking anonymously, confirmed the attackers’ intent. “They wanted to blow up parts of the hospital,” she said.

    The Monday Market blast

    Investigations revealed that the Monday Market explosion was likely carried out by a separate attacker wearing an explosive vest. An eyewitness, simply identified as Fati, who works near the market, said the night was unlike anything she had experienced. “I later heard that they found a boy whose body was completely destroyed. The impact on that boy was worse than on others, so they suspected he was the bomb carrier,” she said.

    Government response

    President Tinubu directed service chiefs to relocate to Borno State following the attacks. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, arrived in Maiduguri on the morning of Wednesday, March 18, to coordinate security operations on the ground.

    Background

    Maiduguri is the birthplace of Boko Haram and has been at the centre of Nigeria’s insurgency for over 17 years. The city had experienced relative calm since 2021 before a mosque bombing in December 2025 killed five people and raised early concerns about renewed attacks. The March 16 bombings are the deadliest to hit the city in several years. No group has formally claimed responsibility, though the Nigerian Armed Forces have attributed the attacks to Boko Haram-affiliated elements.