A recent and devastating attack on the Ngoshe community in the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State has sparked widespread concern, with an unknown armed group claiming responsibility. The assault, which occurred on a Wednesday night, reportedly led to the deaths of numerous soldiers and civilians, including the chief Imam and some elders, and resulted in the abduction of hundreds of residents. Initial reports indicated that many victims might have been taken towards the Mandara Mountains.

The militants infiltrated Ngoshe on Wednesday night, specifically on March 4, 2026, launching coordinated and simultaneous attacks around 4 am. They first targeted a military base, the 82 Div TF Battalion under 26 BDE, and subsequently assaulted an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp. Eyewitnesses described the attackers burning houses, shops, armoured tanks, and military vehicles, making away with unquantifiable ammunition. The attack lasted for several hours before the air component of Operation Hadin Kai forced the assailants to retreat into nearby forests, with the Nigerian Army reportedly killing over 50 of the terrorists during their withdrawal.

The extremist faction, identified as Boko Haram and also referred to as Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād, later released disturbing videos claiming total occupation of Ngoshe. In these videos, a leader of the group, speaking in Hausa, declared their presence inside the central mosque and vowed to remain in the town, intending to rename it 'Daular Islam' (Caliphate) and make it part of their territory. The insurgents boasted about killing men and women, displaying what they claimed were severed heads, and admitted to abducting women and children, threatening to use them as slaves, stating it was ordained by God. They defiantly announced plans to hold Eid prayers openly in the town, mocking the Nigerian government's perceived inability to prevent their operations, and threatened to extend their violent campaign to Maiduguri and Abuja.

Officials in Borno State confirmed the attack, though the exact number of casualties remained unknown. Nahum Daso, spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, confirmed the incident, noting many residents were still missing and likely abducted. Usman Tar, the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, stated that the government was verifying the number of victims and had dispatched relief materials, including food items and blankets, to survivors taking refuge in Pulka town. Health workers and sanitation officials were also sent to the area to mitigate potential disease outbreaks, with military forces providing security for aid delivery.

The incident drew strong condemnation from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who described the attack as “deeply troubling” and a reflection of the worsening security situation in the country. Abubakar expressed alarm over the scale of the abductions and criticized the Federal Government’s “apparent indifference” and “inadequate responses” to recurring security breaches. He argued that the current administration appeared to be losing its grip on the fight against terrorism, seemingly more focused on political rivalries than on protecting vulnerable civilians and servicemen, urging for stronger empathy and decisive action.

Adding to the security concerns, Nigerian soldiers attached to the 21 Special Armor Brigade suffered casualties and injuries in an ambush by the Islamic State-backed Boko Haram faction, ISWAP, in Sambisa Forest. This ambush occurred less than 24 hours after the Ngoshe attack. Sambisa Forest has long been exploited by insurgents as a notorious stronghold, serving as a secure base for planning operations, establishing training camps, and holding abducted civilians. This incident further underscores the persistent and pervasive nature of the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, where both security agents and civilians have faced numerous attacks in recent months.

The Ngoshe community, located in the Gwoza axis of southern Borno, lies near mountainous border regions historically used as hideouts by insurgent groups. This recent violence, alongside other simultaneous attacks on military bases in Konduga, Mainok, Jakana, and Marte, and previous ambushes, highlights the continuous challenge posed by Boko Haram and ISWAP, who have killed thousands and displaced millions across the region.