At least 20 people were killed on Thursday after Boko Haram terrorists ambushed soldiers, civilian volunteers, and construction workers in Wajirko community along the Biu–Damboa Road in Borno State.
The attack, which reportedly occurred around midday, left several others injured, according to security sources and community leaders.
A senior security source disclosed that five soldiers and three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were among those killed during the assault. The remaining victims were civilians engaged in construction work at a bridge site when the insurgents struck.
“The civilians were working on a bridge construction project when the terrorists attacked. Five soldiers and three CJTF members were killed, along with many civilians at the site,” the source said.
Confirming the incident, the National Secretary of the Biu Forum, Bukar Tashkalma, described the attack as shocking and devastating. He said more than 20 people from Biu lost their lives, while many others sustained injuries of varying degrees.
According to him, the victims were buried in line with Islamic rites following funeral prayers led by the Chief Imam of Biu Central Mosque. He extended condolences to the families of the deceased and urged them to take solace in faith.
Tashkalma also commended the courage of the security personnel and called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to end the insurgency and restore safety across Borno State and the wider North-East region.
The Wajirko attack adds to a series of recent Boko Haram assaults in Borno. On January 24, the insurgent group reportedly killed a pastor and four other residents in Tarfa village, Hawul Local Government Area, after an earlier attack that displaced residents and destroyed homes.
The renewed violence highlights the persistent security challenges in the region, more than a decade after the Boko Haram insurgency began.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has recorded successes in a separate operation against bandits in Kwara State. Troops under the 22 Armoured Brigade, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, carried out coordinated offensives between January 23 and 29 under Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
Army authorities said several bandits were neutralised, hideouts destroyed, and logistics routes disrupted during the operation, significantly weakening criminal networks operating in the area.
The military also raised concerns over alleged collaboration between some local residents and bandits, warning that such actions undermine security efforts and threaten lasting peace.
