By Emmanuel Kwada
More than 5,000 residents of Kirawa, a border town in Nigeria’s Borno State, have fled to neighboring Cameroon following a violent takeover by Boko Haram militants on Thursday night.
The attack, which saw the insurgents torch key infrastructure, including a military barracks, the district head’s palace, and numerous homes, marks a significant escalation in the group’s 16-year insurgency in northeastern Nigeria.
According to District Head Abdulrahman Abubakar, who was among those forced to flee, the assault began late Thursday, leaving residents with no choice but to abandon their homes.
“I had to escape to Cameroon,” Abubakar said, confirming that his palace was set ablaze. Boko Haram later released a video showing fighters burning the barracks and celebrating their control over the now-deserted town.
The capture of Kirawa underscores the worsening security and humanitarian crisis in Borno State, where Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have intensified attacks throughout 2025.
The militants have repeatedly targeted military bases and communities, including the border town of Banki last month, only to be repelled after delayed military reinforcements.
Local leaders report a dire situation, exacerbated by the withdrawal of a multinational military task force from the area following an attack in August. Yakubu Mabba Ali Kirawa, a community development leader, noted that local vigilantes and residents were left defenseless against the heavily armed insurgents.
“We urgently need military support to reclaim our town and stop further advances,” he pleaded.
The mass exodus to Cameroon has added to the growing number of displaced persons in the region, with many others seeking refuge in Maiduguri, Borno’s state capital.
The attack highlights the persistent challenge of securing Nigeria’s volatile northeast, where a security vacuum continues to embolden militant groups.
As the situation deteriorates, calls for immediate government and international intervention are growing louder, with fears that without swift action, more communities may fall under Boko Haram’s control.
