Residents of Kirawa, a border town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, have fled to neighbouring Cameroon following a deadly attack by suspected Boko Haram militants that left several soldiers dead and a schoolgirl abducted.
The assault, which began late on Saturday night and lasted for several hours, saw houses, shops, and vehicles set ablaze, according to local officials. Borno State police confirmed the incident but said details remained unclear as many residents were still displaced.
“We are aware of the attack, but information is sketchy because several residents are yet to return,” Police Public Relations Officer ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso told reporters on Sunday.
The Chair of the Kirawa Development Association, Yakubu Mabba Ali, said the militants clashed with troops from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) before abducting a junior secondary school student, identified as Aisha Muhammad Aja.
“After hours of fighting, they left at about 1 am. Many residents crossed into Cameroon to escape the violence, although some have since returned,” he said, urging the federal government to deploy additional troops to secure the border area.
Local sources reported that the abducted schoolgirl remains in captivity, while families continue to seek refuge in nearby Cameroonian villages. The MNJTF reportedly withdrew from the community on Sunday.
The Nigerian military has yet to issue a formal statement on the incident.
