Abdulrahman Abubakar, the district head of Kirawa town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, has explained why he fled Nigeria for neighbouring Cameroon after a recent Boko Haram attack devastated his community.
Earlier this week, armed insurgents invaded Kirawa, killing at least two people and burning down the monarch’s palace. Speaking in an interview with Reuters, Abubakar said he had been left with no other choice but to cross the border to safety.
“I was left with no option but to flee to Cameroon,” he said, adding that many of his residents had also escaped the violence. “Residents boarded trucks to seek refuge across the border, while others ran to Maiduguri.”
Boko Haram later claimed responsibility for the assault, releasing a video that showed fighters torching a military barracks. The attack triggered a wave of displacement, with Reuters reporting that more than 5,000 people from Gwoza LGA have now fled into Cameroon.
The development has prompted renewed security concerns in Borno State, where communities remain vulnerable to insurgent raids. Governor Babagana Zulum visited the affected areas on Friday for an on-the-spot assessment.
During his visit, Zulum acknowledged the past role played by Cameroonian soldiers in helping residents resettle in border towns after years of displacement. “We resettled this town about seven years ago, with the support of Cameroonian soldiers. Unfortunately, they were displaced again by insurgents,” he said.
The governor stressed the strategic importance of border communities such as Wilgo, Kirawa, Baga, Damasak, and Malamfatori, urging the Nigerian Army not to leave them unprotected despite the withdrawal of Cameroonian forces.
“I duly notified the Nigerian military of the dangers of leaving this town without security,” Zulum said. “Unfortunately, my request did not receive the deserved attention, and the insurgents came on Wednesday and vandalised everything we worked so hard to rebuild.”
According to him, the attack left two people dead, while about 50 houses, heavy-duty equipment, and eight vehicles were set ablaze. He expressed gratitude that casualties were not higher, despite the extensive damage.
