An unknown armed group has claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s deadly attack on the Ngoshe community in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Many soldiers and civilians were reportedly killed, and hundreds of residents were abducted in the carnage.
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PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Nigerian Army killed over 50 of the terrorists as they retreated from the community.
The terrorists had infiltrated the town on Wednesday night and first attacked the military base.
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A video viewed by our reporter showed hundreds of the displaced people taking refuge outside their community on Thursday.
On Friday, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the Insurgents have claimed responsibility.
Punch newspaper, relying on a video, reported that the Insurgents claimed total occupation of the community.
It also threatened to use the people it abducted as slaves.
The insurgents spoke in Hausa, saying they were inside the central mosque in Ngoshe and planned to remain in the town and make it part of its territory.
They admitted to killing men and women and abducting many residents, threatening to extend their attacks to Maiduguri and Abuja.
Some videos released by the group showed alleged scenes from the attack, including the killing of men, women and children.
Eyewitnesses said the attack lasted for several hours before the air component of Operation Hadin Kai forced the attackers to retreat into nearby forests.
The spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, confirmed the attack, saying the number of people killed was not yet known and many residents were still missing.
According to him, some victims might have been abducted and taken towards the Mandara Mountains.
In his reaction, the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, said the government was still verifying the number of victims.
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He added that the state government had sent relief materials to survivors currently taking refuge in Pulka town.
The support includes food items such as rice, sugar, millet and blankets for affected families.
Mr Tar also said health workers and sanitation officials have been sent to the area to prevent possible disease outbreaks, while the military continues to provide security for the delivery of aid.
