Following a Boko Haram attack on March 4, over 300 residents of Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State are feared to have been abducted and subjected to slavery in the terrorists’ stronghold.
The terrorist group, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, claimed responsibility for the attack and the abductions. In a video obtained by reporters, the group’s leader stated that they had “slaughtered males and females” and enslaved the rest, asserting that the town would become part of their province.
District Secretary Shuaibu Dabawa confirmed that more than 300 residents were abducted. “When they attacked, we heard sporadic gunshots and fled into the bush for safety, where we spent the night. More than 300 people were taken by terrorists during the attack,” he said.
Borno State’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, said efforts were ongoing to verify the exact number of victims. He confirmed that displaced residents were currently in good condition and that the government had dispatched palliatives—including rice, sugar, millet, and blankets—through the State Emergency Management Agency. Healthcare and sanitation officials have also been deployed to prevent disease outbreaks.
Calls for Stronger Security Measures
Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South and a native of Ngoshe, called on President Bola Tinubu to regularly brief Nigerians on security operations and strengthen military action against insurgents.
Ndume highlighted that the Ngoshe attack involved coordinated forces from the Mandara Mountains, Sambisa Forest, and Lake Chad, and urged the establishment of a Presidential situation room to monitor and communicate security developments.
He also proposed the creation of Air Component Centres across the three northern geopolitical zones, with attack helicopters deployed to insurgency hotspots. While commending the military’s response to the attack, Ndume noted it came too late and reiterated the need to frontload security budgets to ensure faster procurement of arms and equipment.
“The Nigerian Army budget is insufficient compared to the scale of threats. Even if we cannot immediately purchase attack helicopters, we should consider hiring them for deployment to critical areas,” he said.
