Borno residents flee to Cameroon after Boko Haram kill soldiers, abduct schoolgirl

Fear and chaos have gripped Kukawa, a community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, after suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched a deadly attack late Saturday night, August 9, 2025.

The assault, which lasted for several hours, reportedly left scores of soldiers dead and led to the abduction of a schoolgirl identified as Aisha Muhammad.

Speaking to PUNCH Online, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, confirmed the incident, noting that many residents have fled across the border into Cameroon to escape further violence.

“Yes we are aware of the attack that occurred on Saturday, However, the details are still sketchy because many residents are yet to return after they fled, so we can’t ascertain what happened to every Individual currently,” he said.

Also, Yakubu Mabba Ali Kirawa, the Chairman, Kirawa Development Association, explained that the terrorist burnt houses, shops and vehicles

He said, “On Saturday, around 9:30 pm, the Boko Haram went to the town. So while in the town, they exchange fire with the Multi Joint Task Force there. After the attack, they adopted a girl, her name is Aisha Muhammad Aja, they burn Houses, vehicles, and shops.

“Around 1 pm, they left the town, and our people fled to Cameron. Later on, they (residents) came back again, while some slept there. Presently, the situation is a bit calm, and most of the people have come back to the town and resumed their normal business.”

He called on the federal government to deploy more troops to the area to prevent further attacks

“Being a border community where it is just a river that separates us and Cameroon, we are requesting the federal government to establish a brigade and increase deployment to prevent porousness,” he said

Local sources told PUNCH that the kidnapped school girl is yet to regain her freedom as of the time of filing this report

“They killed soldiers and kidnapped a junior secondary school girl.”

The source, however, noted that many families have been displaced, while some are still taking refuge across the border villages in Cameroon.

Efforts to contact the spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Reuben Kovangiya, proved abortive as he neither picked up nor returned calls

(Punch)