Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly k!lled dozens of people in an overnight attack in Borno State, local sources told AFP.
The attack happened on Thursday, January 29, 2026 in Sabon Gari in remote Borno state, which has been the epicentre of an Islamist insurgency by Boko Haram and its Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) offshoot rival since 2009.
“The d3ath toll runs into dozens,” said Ibrahim Liman, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
“More bodies are still at the base while many soldiers are missing,” he added.
Liman said 20 bodies, including those of five soldiers and 15 construction workers, and local hunters were taken to the general hospital in the nearby town of Biu.
Bukar Yamta Ali, secretary of a local hunters’ group in Yamarkumi, near Biu, and two nurses at Biu hospital confirmed they had recovered bodies and wounded from Sabon Gari.
The victims were working on a road bridge that was destroyed last year in another jihadist attack, and were returning to their base when they were attacked.
Most of the victims, who hailed from Biu Local Government Area were buried according to Islamic rite after a funeral prayer held at the Emir of Biu’s Juma’at Mosque on Friday.
