Boko Haram Ambush Leaves Eight CJTF Members Dead

Rita Enemuru, Reporting

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EIGHT members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Warabe, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, were killed on Thursday after Boko Haram insurgents staged a devastating ambush on volunteers who had gone out to gather firewood.

The attack, which occurred around 10:00 a.m. on November 20, caught the community defenders by surprise.

According to HumAngle, a CJTF member confirmed the death toll, while a resident explained that “all the members killed are part of the CJTF, except for one.”

It was gathered that Warabe, situated between Pulka and Gwoza, has no permanent military presence and relies heavily on CJTF volunteers and local hunters for protection as the insurgency enters its second decade.

Residents said the attackers arrived on at least five motorcycles with no fewer than 20 fighters armed with machine guns, while others advanced on foot.

The CJTF volunteers reportedly engaged the militants but eventually ran out of ammunition.

Once the defenders were overpowered, the insurgents executed them, seized their weapons and used their mobile phones to lure unsuspecting hunters under the pretence of requesting reinforcement.

By the time help arrived, the attackers had already retreated into the bush with the stolen arms.

Three CJTF members remain missing and are feared abducted.

The closest military base is in Pulka, about seven kilometres from Warabe, while Gwoza town is approximately 15 kilometres away.

Locals say the absence of a stationed security force leaves the community vulnerable whenever insurgents strike.

The attack came just days after another violent incident in which fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) ambushed troops and CJTF operatives in Damboa, Borno State.

 That assault left two soldiers and two CJTF members dead and reportedly led to the abduction of Brigadier General M. Uba and two other soldiers.

Although the Nigerian Army initially denied the abduction of the 25 Brigade Commander, soldiers who spoke to pressmen insisted he had not returned to base.

 Senior military sources disclosed that the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, and the Sector 2 Commander visited Damboa to coordinate rescue operations.

“The Brigadier General who was abducted managed to send his live location to colleagues,” one source said. “They traced it and found the spot, but there was no trace of him. It’s unclear if his phone died or was seized by the terrorists.”

Another soldier said the missing officer appeared to be using his phone under duress. “Even yesterday morning, he made a video call to his dry cleaner but warned him not to talk,” the source added.

Although troops were deployed to the locations he shared, they returned without success. One soldier abducted alongside him was rescued, but the senior officer and two others remain missing.

In response to the crisis, Brigadier General Mustapha has reportedly been appointed to head the 26 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, while troops earlier deployed for the rescue mission were withdrawn early on Sunday.