Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has sounded a fresh alarm after Boko Haram fighters launched a devastating attack on Kirawa, a border community in Gwoza Local Government Area.
The attack came shortly after Cameroonian troops, who had been providing joint security in the region, withdrew from the area. Governor Zulum, who visited Kirawa in the company of Nigerian soldiers and Civilian Joint Task Force members, said the withdrawal created a dangerous security vacuum that insurgents quickly exploited.
“I told the Nigerian military it was risky to abandon this town without adequate protection. Border communities like Kirawa, Wilgo, Baga, Damasak, and Malamfatori are highly vulnerable and must never be left unguarded,” Zulum warned.
Despite his earlier warnings, Boko Haram fighters stormed Kirawa, leaving death and destruction in their wake. “We lost two people. More than 50 houses were razed, heavy equipment destroyed, and eight vehicles set on fire. Everything we rebuilt was wiped out in one night,” the governor lamented.
The assault forced over 5,000 residents to flee into Cameroon after the insurgents overran the town, burning down a military base, the district head’s palace, and dozens of homes. The extremist group later released a video claiming responsibility for the attack.
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Governor Zulum disclosed that the Nigerian Army has now agreed to redeploy troops to Kirawa and other vulnerable areas. He also announced plans to strengthen the Civilian Joint Task Force and vigilante groups with more supplies and equipment. But he urged the federal government to step up its support, stressing that inconsistent military presence was emboldening the insurgents.
“What matters most is not the number of soldiers but the quality of their commitment,” Zulum said, calling for urgent action as the rainy season ends and insurgents intensify their raids.
The latest attack comes barely two weeks after Boko Haram fighters carried out a similar assault in Banki, another border town, where they overran a military base and carted away weapons.
