Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday launched a deadly ambush against members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the Warabe community of Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State, resulting in the deaths of eight personnel, while three others remain missing.
The attackers struck around 10:00 a.m. on November 20, targeting CJTF members who had gone to collect firewood — a routine activity for volunteers who also serve as the community’s primary security force.
A CJTF member from Warabe confirmed the casualties, describing the incident as a well-planned ambush that caught the volunteers unprepared.
Warabe, a remote settlement positioned between Pulka and Gwoza, has no permanent military presence. For years, the community has relied heavily on CJTF operatives and local hunters to defend against insurgent incursions as the Boko Haram conflict continues into its second decade.
Residents reported that the insurgents arrived on multiple motorcycles, with at least 20 fighters armed with rifles and machine guns, while others advanced on foot. The CJTF reportedly returned fire but eventually ran out of ammunition as the attackers intensified pressure.
After overpowering the volunteers, the insurgents seized their weapons and allegedly used some of the victims’ mobile phones to lure additional hunters by posing as reinforcements. By the time help arrived, the attackers had fled into the surrounding bushland, taking the stolen arms with them.
Three CJTF members remain unaccounted for and are feared abducted.
The nearest military base is in Pulka, about seven kilometres away, while Gwoza town is approximately 15 kilometres from Warabe. Locals continue to express concern over the lack of military deployment in the area, warning that communities remain highly vulnerable during such attacks.
The incident comes amid heightened insecurity in the region. Last week, Hobnob News reported ongoing rescue operations following an ambush in Damboa, where troops and CJTF personnel were attacked, and a senior army officer was reportedly abducted.
Military authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the latest incident in Warabe.
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