More than 5,000 residents of Kirawa, a border town in Borno State, have fled into Cameroon after Boko Haram insurgents launched an attack on Thursday.
Gatekeepers News reports that the attack forced residents to abandon their homes, which, along with a nearby military barracks, were set on fire.
In a video released by the group, Boko Haram fighters were seen torching the barracks while chanting, “victory belongs to God.”
Abdulrahman Abubakar, the district head of Kirawa, confirmed the mass displacement, saying residents were left with no choice but to flee.
He said, “I was left with no option but to flee to Cameroon. Some boarded trucks across the border, while others ran to Maiduguri.”
Boko Haram has escalated its attacks on communities and security formations in Borno in recent months. Since the beginning of the year, the insurgents have reportedly overrun several army bases and villages, though the military has mounted counteroffensives with reinforcements.
Earlier in the week, the militants raided Kirawa, killing two people and burning the district head’s home, vehicles, houses, and heavy-duty equipment.
On Friday, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum renewed his appeal to the federal government and military high command for troops to be deployed to vulnerable border towns such as Kirawa, Wulgo, Baga, Damasak, and Malam Fatori.
Zulum said he had met with the theatre commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the GOC of the 7th Division, and the commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), and that it was agreed troops would soon be stationed in Kirawa.
The governor also lamented that his repeated warnings about the risks of leaving border communities unprotected had not received sufficient attention from military authorities.
