A renewed Boko Haram raid in Borno State has claimed the lives of a Nigerian Army captain and a private soldier. The attack, which took place late at night on Wednesday in the Izge community, located near Gwoza, marks another escalation in a series of insurgent assaults on the region.
The insurgents launched their assault around 1 a.m., attacking Izge, a community already scarred by years of insurgent violence. Locals, including community leaders, report that while the Nigerian military responded quickly, two soldiers lost their lives in the intense firefight.
“Unfortunately, a Captain and a Soldier paid the supreme price,” said the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, confirming the military casualties.
Despite the tragic loss, the military, along with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), local hunters, and vigilantes, mounted a determined defense. The combined forces successfully repelled the insurgents, killing at least three Boko Haram members in the process. The attackers left behind a trail of wreckage, including over 10 bicycles and motorcycles, a military-sized vehicle, and a sophisticated rifle with ammunition, which were all recovered by local forces.
Emir Shehu Timta expressed his deep gratitude toward the brave individuals who fought alongside the military to protect the community. “I want to commend our military forces, other security agencies, men of CJTF, local hunters and vigilantes, and our resilient people for their bravery,” he noted. The Emir also called for further assistance from the federal government, urging them to equip security forces with advanced technology and weapons to tackle the ongoing threat posed by Boko Haram.
Gwoza, located roughly 130 kilometers from Maiduguri, the state capital, has endured years of insurgent violence. The town once known for its peace and mountainous beauty has become one of the epicenters of Boko Haram’s activities in northeastern Nigeria. Over the last decade, insurgents have repeatedly attacked villages, displaced countless families, and sought to impose their radical ideology on the region.
The tragedy of Gwoza is personal for Emir Shehu Timta. His father, the late Emir Idrissa Timta, was killed in a Boko Haram attack in May 2014. Since then, Shehu Timta has worked tirelessly to rebuild the community and support efforts to restore peace. His leadership has been marked by vocal calls for peacebuilding and the protection of his people from further harm.
