According to a report by Reuters, more than 5,000 people have crossed into Cameroon after Boko Haram fighters captured the border town of Kirawa in Borno State.
The raid, which took place late Thursday, forced the district head Abdulrahman Abubakar to abandon his palace. His residence, a military barracks, and dozens of homes were set ablaze during the att+ck. Abubakar confirmed to Reuters that many residents fled in trucks while others escaped towards Maiduguri.
The insurgents, in a video seen by Reuters, claimed responsibility, chanting “victory belongs to God” as they torched the barracks. Survivors said Kirawa is now deserted. “Boko Haram is in control,” one escapee told the outlet.
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This latest assa¥lt comes weeks after a September 19 att+ck on Banki, another border town, where militants overran a military base and seized weapons.
Local leaders interviewed by Reuters have appealed for urgent military reinforcements, noting that only vigilantes remain after the withdrawal of a multinational task force in August.
Borno State remains the epicenter of the 16-year insurgency led by Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP, whose attacks against civilians and security forces have escalated in recent months.
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