• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

A violent armed group has claimed responsibility for the devastating assault on Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, declaring that it had "conquered" the town after a night of bloodshed that left scores of soldiers and civilians dead and more than 300 residents abducted. The attackers stormed the community on Wednesday night, reportedly setting a military base ablaze, firing sporadically into homes, and burning shops and residential buildings as terrified residents fled for safety. In a disturbing video that surfaced on Friday morning, five masked men appeared inside what they identified as the central mosque in Ngoshe, boasting about the attack and announcing their intention to remain in the community. Speaking in Hausa on behalf of the group, one of the men claimed the assault had achieved its objective. "In the name of Allah, the most merciful and most beneficial. "We thank God Almighty for helping us to succeed in our mission in Ngoshe. Today we are inside the central mosque in Ngoshe. "People in this town are saying that we cannot conquer Ngoshe. With the help of God, we have already conquered the town. "By the grace of God, we are going to stay in Ngoshe and make it part of our province and we are going to do the Eid-el-Fitr Salah after the end of Ramadan in Ngoshe." The spokesman for the group also admitted that civilians were brutally killed during the raid, including men and women. "We have slaughtered males and females in Ngoshe and we have enslaved the others. It was Almighty Allah that said that we should enslave them and go with them," he stated. Read also: Ex-Aviation Minster, Oduah, makes refund in alleged N2.4bn fraud case The group further threatened to expand its violent campaign beyond the border communities of Borno, warning that future attacks could target major cities, including Maiduguri and Abuja. Videos released by the attackers from the scene showed scenes of extreme violence, including the killing of young men and attacks on women and children. Following the raid, survivors from Ngoshe expressed deep concern about elderly residents and the bodies of victims left behind in the deserted community after the attackers forced residents to flee. Many of the displaced villagers are now scattered across nearby communities in Gwoza Local Government Area, having escaped the attack with little more than the clothes on their backs. Residents said they were forced to abandon homes, livestock, and personal belongings while running for safety. Witnesses said the assault lasted for several hours before the air component of Operation Hadin Kai, the Nigerian military's counterinsurgency mission in the North-East, mobilised and forced the attackers to retreat into surrounding forests. Confirming the attack, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, said the number of victims was still being determined, with several residents reported missing. "Although some unknown number of civilians yet to be ascertained were also affected or killed. Some are still missing and probably some were abducted and taken towards the Mandara Mountains," he stated. Authorities say efforts are underway to establish the true scale of the tragedy. The state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, said the government was still verifying the number of missing residents and casualties. "On missing persons, we are in the process of verification; the actual figure is yet to be ascertained," he said in a telephone interview. Tar added that the state government had already begun providing emergency support to survivors who fled the attack and are currently sheltering in Pulka, another town in Gwoza Local Government Area. "There is a standing protocol by the state government for providing support to people who are affected by conflicts. In the case of Ngoshe, the people were assembled at Pulka, a nearby town, and immediate support came from the local government. "In addition, the state government, through the State Emergency Management Agency, has dispatched palliatives to all the victims and each household. The items include rice, sugar, millet and blankets. They will arrive tomorrow." He assured that the displaced residents were receiving assistance and that security forces were working to stabilise the area. "Currently, the people are comfortable and the military is on top of the situation, ensuring a security corridor for the transportation of items to the victims," Usman assured, adding that healthcare and sanitation officials had also been dispatched to the location to prevent a disease outbreak. The Ngoshe attack is the latest in a string of violent incidents in northeastern Nigeria, where communities near the Mandara Mountains continue to face persistent threats from armed insurgent groups operating in the region. Source: https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/terror-group-claims-borno-massacre-says-300-residents-enslaved/