Boko Haram attacks Yamtake community, kills soldiers, civilians

Tragedy struck late Thursday night as suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched a deadly assault on Yamtake, a newly resettled community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The attack claimed the lives of two Nigerian soldiers and an undisclosed number of civilians, further highlighting the persistent security challenges plaguing the region.

According to local and military sources, the terrorists stormed the village around 11:15pm, targeting the Yamtake military formation in a coordinated onslaught. A military officer, speaking under anonymity, confirmed the casualties and noted that by the time reinforcements arrived from Gwoza town, the damage had already been done.

Reacting to the incident, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) expressed sorrow over the loss of lives, describing the attack as “unfortunate and heartbreaking,” especially considering that the victims were recently resettled after years of displacement.

“It is very sad that two soldiers paid the supreme price, while an unspecified number of innocent civilians were among the casualties,” Ndume said. “May their souls rest in peace.”

Ndume commended the efforts of Brigadier General Nasir Abdullahi and his troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade for their vigilance in repelling further incursions, particularly an attempted infiltration into Gwoza town shortly after the Yamtake attack.

“In the past month, several communities in Borno South, North, and Central have witnessed deadly Boko Haram attacks without confrontation. The situation is worrisome,” he said.

Calling for proactive solutions, the senator advocated the formation of Armed Community Defence groups to support military efforts. He emphasized that members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), hunters, and vigilantes—who mostly rely on den guns and crude weapons—remain limited in their ability to resist heavily armed terrorists.

Ndume renewed his appeal to the federal government and military leadership to urgently deploy what he termed “TEAAM”—Technology, Equipment, Arms and Ammunition, and Motivation—to end the decade-long insurgency ravaging Borno and other parts of the Northeast.

The latest attack is one of several recent deadly incidents involving Boko Haram:

April 12, 2025: Eight passengers were killed and over 17 injured after a commercial vehicle hit a landmine along the Damboa-Maiduguri Highway.

January 24, 2025: Twenty-two soldiers, including a commanding officer, were killed during an attack on Malam Fatori military base.

March 24, 2025: Suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters attacked military bases in Wajiroko and Wulgo, killing at least four soldiers and damaging key infrastructure.

Despite repeated claims of degrading the insurgents, Thursday’s attack underlines Boko Haram’s continued capability to strike at military and civilian targets, raising urgent questions about the sustainability of current counterinsurgency measures in the region.