Many residents of Kirawa under the Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno state have fled to Cameroon following an attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists who killed scores of soldiers and abducted a schoolgirl, Aisha Muhammad.

Our correspondent gathered that the attack, which lasted for hours, occurred late Saturday night of August 09, 2025.

Confirming the attack to PUNCH Online, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said that many residents have fled their homes

“Yes we are aware of the attack that occurred on Saturday, However, the details are still sketchy because many residents are yet to return after they fled, so we can’t ascertain what happened to every Individual currently,” he said.

Also, Yakubu Mabba Ali Kirawa, the Chairman, Kirawa Development Association, explained that the terrorist burnt houses, shops and vehicles.

He said, “On Saturday, around 9:30 pm, Boko Haram went to the town. So while in the town, they exchange fire with the Multi Joint Task Force there. After the attack, they adopted a girl, her name is Aisha Muhammad Aja; they burnt houses, vehicles, and shops.

“Around 1 am, they left the town, and our people fled to Cameroon. Later on, they (residents) came back again, while some slept there. Presently, the situation is a bit calm, and most of the people have come back to the town and resumed their normal business.”

He called on the federal government to deploy more troops to the area to prevent further attacks

“Being a border community where it is just a river that separates us and Cameroon, we are requesting the federal government to establish a brigade and increase deployment to prevent porousness,” he said

Local sources told PUNCH that the kidnapped school girl is yet to regain her freedom as of the time of filing this report

“They killed soldiers and kidnapped a junior secondary school girl.”

The source, however, noted that many families have been displaced, while some are still taking refuge across the border villages in Cameroon.

Efforts to contact the spokesperson for Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Reuben Kovangiya, proved abortive as he neither picked up nor returned calls. (The PUNCH)