A Nigerian senator has informed the BBC that armed attackers killed a significant number of civilians in the village of Ngoshe, Borno state, on Wednesday. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume stated that precise figures are unavailable but described the death toll as "very massive."
Local media reports indicate that suspected Islamist militants abducted over 100 women and children during the assault, which also targeted a nearby military base and a camp for displaced persons. Several soldiers and civilians, including the village's chief cleric and community elders, were reportedly killed. Senator Ndume noted that the militants controlled the village for two days before being dislodged by the military, which employed air strikes and ground troops. He likened the attack's devastation to the peak of Boko Haram's influence over a decade ago. The senator also expressed concern that stolen weapons could reinforce the attackers for future operations.
Borno state has long been the epicenter of Nigeria's Islamist insurgency. Senator Ndume criticized the government's security efforts, citing a lack of equipment, ammunition, and motivation among the armed forces. Police confirmed an incident occurred but could not yet confirm casualty numbers, stating that security personnel repelled the insurgents and a search and rescue operation is underway. The Borno state Governor's spokesperson met with survivors, offering aid and promising efforts to rescue the kidnapped and restore order.