Suspected members of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists on Thursday evening launched a fresh attack on Kautikari village in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, forcing residents to flee for safety amid gunfire and destruction.
Eyewitnesses who spoke to Vanguard said the insurgents stormed the community, shooting sporadically and setting residential buildings ablaze. The assault triggered panic, with many villagers escaping into nearby bushes to avoid being caught in the violence.
A security operative from the community, currently based in Maiduguri, confirmed the incident, stating that a distress call was received around 6:50 p.m. He noted that the situation remains fluid, making it difficult to immediately determine the number of casualties.
“We cannot ascertain any casualties now as they are wreaking havoc and people are scrambling for safety,” the source said.
The latest attack comes barely weeks after a similar assault on March 30, 2026, when terrorists invaded the predominantly Christian community, killing several residents, including the commander of local hunters, Mallam Bumto, who had arrived from Lagos a day earlier.
Among the victims of the previous attack was Johanna Peter, a bride-to-be whose wedding was scheduled to take place the following day at a local church.
That earlier incident also led to widespread looting of food supplies and livestock, forcing residents to abandon their homes. The community had only recently begun resettling before Thursday’s renewed violence.
Kautikari, located within the troubled Chibok axis, has remained vulnerable to repeated insurgent attacks, highlighting ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s North-East despite years of military operations against extremist groups.
Comments