Borno State was once again plunged into mourning following a brutal attack on Thursday night by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on the newly resettled Yamtake community in Gwoza Local Government Area. The brazen assault left two Nigerian soldiers and several unconfirmed civilians dead, reigniting fears in a region already scarred by years of insurgency.
According to credible security and local sources, the assailants launched the coordinated offensive around 11:15 p.m., directly targeting a military formation stationed in the community. The soldiers, who were among the few deployed to secure the fragile area, paid the ultimate price while defending the newly-returned internally displaced persons (IDPs).
“We are still awaiting the return of our reinforcement team, but preliminary reports confirm the death of two of our men and several civilians,” a military source told Daily Trust on condition of anonymity. “The full extent of the casualties will only be known once the situation is brought under control.”
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), confirmed the attack, expressing deep sorrow and outrage over the renewed wave of bloodshed.
“It is unfortunate that our people in Yamtake came under a deadly Boko Haram invasion last night,” he said. “The community had only recently welcomed back displaced families through a government-led resettlement programme. This tragedy is a heart-wrenching setback.”
Ndume described the loss of two gallant soldiers and the yet-to-be-ascertained number of civilian lives as “a dark moment,” praying for the repose of their souls.
Despite the harrowing incident, the Senator commended the swift response of the Nigerian military, singling out the efforts of Brigadier General Nasir Abdullahi, Commander of the 26 Task Force Brigade, and his troops for successfully repelling what could have been a far deadlier assault.
“I am reliably informed that after the carnage in Yamtake, the terrorists attempted to penetrate Gwoza town. But thanks to the heroism of our troops, that effort was valiantly foiled,” he added.
Ndume noted that ambush strategies by the military around Gwoza have been instrumental in staving off further attacks. However, he warned that the deteriorating security situation across Borno’s three senatorial districts—South, North, and Central—demands urgent and innovative interventions.
“In the past month alone, numerous communities have been attacked without adequate resistance. The situation is becoming increasingly dire,” he lamented.
He passionately renewed his call for the establishment of an Armed Community Defence Force, arguing that while the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), local hunters, and vigilantes have shown immense bravery, their lack of firepower renders them ineffective against sophisticated terrorist groups.
“These local defenders are doing their best with den guns and sticks, but they can only do so much against terrorists wielding automatic weapons and explosives,” he explained.
Ndume also reiterated a longstanding proposal he dubbed the TEAAM strategy—Technology, Equipment, Arms and Ammunition, and Motivation. According to him, deploying these elements comprehensively is the only realistic pathway to decisively ending Boko Haram’s over-a-decade-long reign of terror.
The latest massacre in Yamtake is part of an escalating pattern of violence attributed to Boko Haram and its ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) affiliates. On April 12, eight passengers were killed and 17 injured when their vehicle struck a landmine on the Damboa–Maiduguri Highway. Earlier, on January 24, 22 soldiers, including a commanding officer, were reportedly slain in Malam-Fatori. Similarly, March 24 saw four soldiers perish during simultaneous attacks on Wajiroko and Wulgo military bases.
Despite these mounting tragedies, the Nigerian military remains locked in a protracted battle with the insurgents, with public pressure growing for a shift toward intelligence-led and technology-driven counterterrorism operations.
When contacted for comment, Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Daso Kenneth, stated that he had not been briefed on the incident. “Most of these areas fall under military operational command, so we await official confirmation from them,” he said.
As the dust settles on yet another attack, communities across Borno continue to brace for the next, caught in a cycle of fear and fragile hope.
PIONEER NEWS 