Boko Haram gunmen have killed several soldiers and abducted a schoolgirl during a night raid on Kukawa, a community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, forcing residents to flee for safety.
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The attack, which occurred on Saturday night, August 9, 2025, began around 9:30 p.m. and lasted for hours. Witnesses said the insurgents set houses, shops, and vehicles on fire while exchanging heavy gunfire with troops of the Multi Joint Task Force.
ASP Nahum Daso, spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, confirmed the incident, noting that many residents abandoned their homes and crossed into Cameroon to escape the violence.
Local sources said a schoolgirl identified as Aisha Muhammad was taken by the attackers and has yet to be released. Several soldiers reportedly lost their lives during the fierce confrontation.
Although some residents have since returned to Kukawa, many families remain displaced in border communities in Cameroon.
Yakubu Mabba Ali Kirawa, Chairman of the Kirawa Development Association, has appealed to the federal government to deploy more troops, warning that the community’s closeness to the Cameroon border makes it highly vulnerable to future attacks.
Police say they are still gathering details about the scale of destruction as not all residents have come back.
