Thousands of residents of Kirawa, a border community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, have fled into neighbouring Cameroon after Boko Haram insurgents overran the town late Thursday, burning homes, a military barracks and the palace of the district head.
The district head, Abdulrahman Abubakar, told Reuters he was forced to abandon his palace before it was set ablaze.
“I had no option but to flee to Cameroon. Many residents joined me across the border, while others ran towards Maiduguri,” he said.
Local sources estimate that more than 5,000 residents have crossed into Cameroon, while others are taking refuge in Pulka and other nearby towns where Nigerian troops are stationed.
The attack is the latest in a string of assaults in Borno State, the epicentre of the 16-year-old insurgency led by Boko Haram and its splinter faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
On September 19, militants overran a military barracks in Banki, another border town, forcing soldiers to abandon their posts and leaving civilians vulnerable.
Videos released by Boko Haram showed fighters chanting and torching military facilities in Kirawa, declaring “victory belongs to God” as flames engulfed the night sky.
Community leader, Yakubu Mabba Ali Kirawa, appealed for urgent military reinforcement, saying local vigilantes are now the only security presence in the area after the withdrawal of the Multinational Joint Task Force in August.
Residents describe Kirawa as completely deserted, with Boko Haram firmly in control as of Friday.
