Over 300 people, mostly women and children, fell victim to a brutal abduction by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno, Nigeria’s northeast.
Terrorists from Boko Haram stormed the quiet village of Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State, late on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.
They launched a fierce assault on a military base and a nearby camp for internally displaced persons, catching residents and soldiers off guard.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as the terrorists fired indiscriminately, setting homes ablaze and herding terrified villagers into the night.
In the process, they killed at least 20 civilians and nine soldiers, while injuring many more.
The attack did not stop there.
The terrorists also targeted another military outpost in nearby Pulka, claiming five more soldiers’ lives, including a commanding officer.
However, Nigerian forces fought back fiercely.
Troops eliminated scores of the fleeing terrorists through ground operations and aerial strikes, though tragically, some civilians caught in the crossfire lost their lives.
In a chilling propaganda video released days later, the terrorists paraded their captives—over 300 men, women, and children huddled together in fear.
One terrorist leader, speaking in the footage, boasted about the raid and vowed to hold Eid prayers in Ngoshe’s central mosque, which they now control.
This contradicted early government reports that pegged the abductions at around 100, sparking outrage over potential underreporting.
Meanwhile, thousands of survivors fled to Pulka town, where they now sleep in open spaces, schools, and on roadsides, desperately awaiting aid amid a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Search and rescue teams continue their efforts, but families remain in agony, with many loved ones still unaccounted for.
President Bola Tinubu swiftly condemned the assault, offering condolences to the bereaved families and describing it as a “heartless attack on hapless citizens.”
He urged Nigerians not to give in to fear, while the military vows to intensify operations against the insurgents.
Public reaction has been swift and furious.
On social media, Nigerians expressed heartbreak and frustration, with one user lamenting, “A whole village gone,” and others criticising the government’s handling of security.
Activist Rinu Oduala highlighted the video, pointing out the discrepancy in numbers and calling for accountability.
Even social commentator VeryDarkMan weighed in, questioning Vice President Kashim Shettima’s role and noting that the violence spares no one, regardless of faith.
This incident underscores the persistent threat from Boko Haram and its splinter group, ISWAP, in Nigeria’s northeast.
Since 2009, the insurgency has displaced over two million people and claimed countless lives, despite military gains in reclaiming territory.
As the region grapples with porous borders and rugged terrain, calls grow louder for stronger action to protect vulnerable communities.
For now, the people of Ngoshe cling to hope, praying for the safe return of their abducted kin.
