By Ebenezer Mabinuola
A Nigerian Army Captain and a soldier were killed in the early hours of Wednesday when Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly assault on Izge community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
The Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, confirmed the incident, revealing that the terrorists stormed the community around 1:00 a.m., sparking a gun battle that involved military personnel, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), local hunters, vigilantes, and armed residents.
“Our gallant troops, alongside local forces, killed three terrorists. The attackers fled, abandoning weapons and over 10 motorcycles,” the Emir stated. He commended the bravery of the soldiers and local defenders while praying for the repose of the fallen.
The Emir also expressed gratitude to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State for his continued logistical support and called on the federal government to ramp up security efforts through the deployment of modern surveillance and combat technologies.
Coordinated Assaults Across the Region
In a separate but related development, Boko Haram fighters attacked the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Yadi, located in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, last Saturday. Four soldiers were reportedly killed, and military hardware was destroyed during the assault.
The Yobe attack occurred less than 24 hours after the North East Governors’ Forum convened in Damaturu to coordinate new strategies for confronting the insurgency that continues to destabilize the region.
Security sources said at least seven terrorists were neutralized during the Izge encounter, with recovered weaponry including anti-aircraft guns and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) — underscoring the continuing threat posed by the insurgents’ access to high-grade military equipment.
Government Pressure
The renewed violence comes just weeks after President Bola Tinubu issued a direct order to the nation’s service chiefs, demanding a decisive end to ongoing terrorist killings in the North East. The latest incidents suggest that despite intensified military efforts, Boko Haram and its factions remain capable of mounting significant offensives against both civilians and security installations.
As communities across Borno and Yobe continue to bear the brunt of insurgent attacks, calls are growing louder for a more technology-driven and intelligence-led approach to counterterrorism operations.
