In a tragic incident, suspected Boko Haram terrorists disguised in military uniforms launched a deadly attack on the Gatamarwa and Tsiha communities in the Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State. The assailants, armed with AK-47 rifles, struck at approximately 5 pm on New Year’s Day, targeting mourners returning from Gatamarwa.
According to the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso Kenneth, the gunmen fired indiscriminately at the residents, resulting in the death of 12 individuals and leaving two others injured. The attackers, arriving on motorcycles and in Hilux vans, reportedly looted foodstuffs before setting houses ablaze.
The police commissioner and other security heads have initiated a discreet investigation into the matter to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. The community of Gatamarwa and the nearby Tsiha community near Shikarkir were both affected by the assailants, who also killed three people and abducted a young lady in the latter community.
This tragic incident follows a similar pattern of violence previously reported in September 2023, when marauding Boko Haram insurgents killed 10 farmers and abducted several others in the Mafa Local Government Area. The insurgents, seeking food and cash, killed the farmers after they were unable to meet the attackers’ demands. A resident, Ya Kalu Bukar, revealed that the terrorists killed 10 farmers and abducted four individuals to prevent immediate reporting of their operations to security agents.
As the affected communities mourn the loss of lives and grapple with the aftermath of the attacks, the authorities remain committed to ensuring a thorough investigation and bringing those responsible for these heinous acts to justice.
