Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly killed dozens of construction workers, local hunters, and security personnel during an overnight attack in Borno State.
The attack occurred on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Sabon Gari, a remote community in Borno, which has remained the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency and its Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) offshoot since 2009.
Confirming the incident, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Ibrahim Liman, said the death toll was still rising.
“The death toll runs into dozens. More bodies are still at the base, while many soldiers are missing,” Liman said.
According to him, at least 20 bodies comprising five soldiers, 15 construction workers, and local hunters were evacuated to the General Hospital in Biu.
Bukar Yamta Ali, secretary of a local hunters’ association in Yamarkumi near Biu, alongside two nurses at Biu General Hospital, confirmed that several bodies and injured victims were brought in from Sabon Gari.
The victims were reportedly working on the reconstruction of a road bridge destroyed in a previous jihadist attack last year. They were ambushed while returning to their base after the day’s work.
Most of the victims, who were indigenes of Biu Local Government Area, were buried in accordance with Islamic rites following a funeral prayer held on Friday at the Emir of Biu’s Juma’at Mosque.
Security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on the attack as efforts continue to account for missing personnel
