By Milcah Tanimu

In an unfortunate incident, Boko Haram militants launched attacks in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, resulting in the tragic loss of 12 lives. The assault, confirmed by Borno State Police spokesperson Nahum Daso, occurred in the evening of January 1, 2024.

According to Daso, the assailants, arriving in Hilux vans and motorcycles in large numbers, unleashed gunfire on the community of Gatamarwa around 5:00 pm. The attackers were heavily armed with AK-47 rifles and targeted mourners returning from Gatamarwa. In addition to the fatalities, two individuals sustained injuries during the onslaught.

The terrorists further carried out an attack on Tsiha community near Shikarkir, where three people lost their lives, a young lady was abducted, and houses were set ablaze. The attackers also looted foodstuffs from the community.

Chibok Local Government Area, located 125 kilometers from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, has witnessed devastation from terrorist activities over the past 14 years, with numerous abductions perpetrated by the Boko Haram insurgents.

This recent incident follows a similar pattern of violence, occurring about a month after the destruction of four electric towers along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway. The destruction impacted power supply to Maiduguri, which had been restored eleven months earlier following a previous attack in 2021.

The targeted victims in these attacks include farmers, herders, fishermen, and loggers, with the terrorists accusing them of spying and collaborating with the military and local militia groups.