In a report by Daily Trust on 12th August, 2025, Boko Haram insurgents have launched a deadly nighttime attack on Kirawa town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, killing three soldiers and abducting a female schoolgirl identified as Aishatu Aja.
According to local and security sources, the assault forced many residents to flee across the border into Cameroon in search of safety. The brazen strike has deepened fears among residents, especially with reports of troops withdrawing from the area after the incident.
The Borno State Police Command confirmed the attack but said that the full details were still emerging.
Police spokesperson ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso told journalists that no civilian deaths had been officially recorded at this stage, and the reported abduction of the school girl had yet to be independently verified.
He noted that many residents who fled in the chaos of the attack were yet to return, leaving the scale of the crisis uncertain.
“The incident took place in the night, and many residents who fled for safety have not returned. So far, no civilian casualty has been reported to us, and I cannot confirm the abduction of the female student at this stage,” Daso said.
The Emir of Gwoza, HRH Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, also confirmed receiving a distress call from the District Head of Kirawa during the incident.
He described the attack as “unfortunate and shocking,” particularly lamenting that the commanding officer was reportedly absent when the insurgents struck.
The traditional ruler expressed concern for his people’s safety, noting that a significant number had already fled to neighbouring Cameroon.
Security sources disclosed that the attackers were able to overpower the troops stationed in the area, destroying their base and carting away arms and ammunition.
The source suggested the possibility of insider collusion, saying that the way the assault unfolded raised suspicions.
He further stated that, due to the security risk, soldiers had to abandon the area after the incident to avoid further casualties.
Residents who spoke to Daily Trust said the troop withdrawal has triggered a new wave of panic. A resident, who asked to remain anonymous, revealed that soldiers were seen leaving Kirawa the day after the attack, heightening fears of a Boko Haram resurgence.
He confirmed that the abducted schoolgirl, Aishatu Aja, had not been rescued, and many families were now relocating to Cameroon for safety.
Another resident, Mala Abubakar, reported that hundreds of people had already crossed into Cameroon through the Kirawa-Kerawa border route.
He explained that some families were taking temporary shelter near the border gate alongside some military personnel.
The second attack on the same day, after the initial raid, appears to have been the final push that convinced residents to flee en masse.
The withdrawal of soldiers has further complicated the situation, leaving the community vulnerable to renewed insurgent assaults.
For residents, the fear is not just about the latest killings and abduction, but also the long-term security vacuum such a pullout could create.
Local voices are now warning that unless troops are redeployed and strengthened, Kirawa could fall completely under Boko Haram control.
Kirawa has faced repeated violence in recent years. On April 25, 2025, suspected Boko Haram fighters killed 12 people along Kirawa Road and Bokko Ghide community in Pulka District, also within Gwoza LGA.
On October 10, 2025, insurgents struck again, killing 11 farmers and kidnapping 15 others. These frequent attacks have left the area in a constant state of fear and instability.
The border area has also been the site of cross-border raids. On May 19–20, 2025, Boko Haram assaulted Kerawa, on the Cameroon-Nigeria border, killing one Cameroonian soldier and three civilians.
Earlier, on March 24–25, 2025, the group carried out a deadly attack in Wulgo, in Cameroon’s Logone-et-Chari division, killing 12 Cameroonian soldiers during a nighttime raid.
With the latest incident in Kirawa, analysts say the pattern of cross-border movement and attacks highlights the difficulty of securing frontier communities.
The humanitarian impact is already visible, with displaced families flooding into Cameroon. Unless urgent action is taken to restore security and confidence, observers warn, the crisis could worsen, further undermining stability in the region.
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