Senator representing Borno South at the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has confirmed that several civilians, soldiers, and terrorists were killed during an attack on Ngoshe community in Borno State by suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, Ndume said full details of the incident remain unclear but disclosed that many of the fleeing insurgents were eliminated by the air component of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI.
The lawmaker lamented that the attack claimed the lives of the Chief Imam of Ngoshe, some community elders, and several soldiers. He added that more than 100 people are still missing or have been abducted by the attackers.
Ndume condemned the assault and expressed sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives, while wishing those injured a speedy recovery.
He further revealed that the military base in the area was overrun during the attack, with key equipment destroyed. Several homes and properties worth millions of naira were also reportedly set on fire.
The senator also raised concerns about the military’s equipment, claiming security forces on the frontlines often operate with limited resources such as AK-47 rifles, while insurgents deploy more sophisticated weapons including rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), anti-aircraft machine guns, and drones.
He called for intensified military operations in the Sambisa Forest and the Mandara Mountains to curb the growing threat of insurgents in southern Borno.
Ndume added that the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Ugochukwu Unachukwu, alongside the Brigade Commander in Gwoza, had already arrived in Ngoshe to restore order.
According to him, the state government and the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) are working with local authorities to provide relief materials to displaced residents currently taking shelter in Pulka.