(DDM) – The district head of Kirawa town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, Abdulrahman Abubakar, has fled Nigeria to neighboring Cameroon after a brutal Boko Haram attack that left his palace in ruins and at least two people dead.
According to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) findings, the traditional ruler confirmed his escape in an interview with Reuters, explaining that he had no choice but to seek refuge across the border following the devastating assault earlier in the week.
The insurgents, believed to be members of Boko Haram, stormed Kirawa, killing residents and setting the monarch’s palace ablaze.
The attack forced hundreds of villagers to flee the community in panic, with many boarding trucks or trekking long distances to cross into Cameroon.
“I was left with no option but to flee to Cameroon,” Abubakar told Reuters, describing the chaos that unfolded during the night raid.
He added that several residents also ran toward Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to escape the militants’ advance.
According to reports, Boko Haram later released a video showing its fighters torching a military barracks and chanting victory songs after the invasion.
Security sources said the latest violence underscores the group’s renewed strength in parts of Gwoza Local Government Area, one of the earliest flashpoints of the insurgency that began over a decade ago.
The United Nations and local humanitarian agencies have reported rising displacement in the area, with more than 5,000 people fleeing into Cameroon since the latest wave of attacks began.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has since mobilized hunters and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to reinforce security and assist victims.
During an assessment visit to the affected communities on Friday, Governor Zulum commended Cameroonian soldiers for their previous support in resettling displaced persons but lamented that recent troop withdrawals created a security vacuum.
“We resettled this town about seven years ago with the support of Cameroonian soldiers,” Zulum said.
“Unfortunately, they withdrew, and that doesn’t mean the Nigerian Army should leave the area vacant.”
The governor disclosed that he had repeatedly warned the military of the dangers of leaving border towns unprotected, particularly strategic communities like Wilgo, Kirawa, Baga, Damasak, and Malamfatori.
Zulum confirmed that while only two lives were lost in the latest assault, the insurgents burned down over 50 houses, destroyed heavy-duty equipment, and set eight vehicles on fire.
He described the incident as a major setback to his administration’s efforts to rebuild and resettle displaced communities in Southern Borno.
Human rights groups have called for urgent intervention, warning that the latest attack could reverse years of progress in stabilizing areas once liberated from Boko Haram control.
The situation in Kirawa highlights the persistent insecurity in Nigeria’s northeastern border regions, despite repeated government assurances of victory over insurgents.
For residents like Abdulrahman Abubakar, the reality remains harsh, survival now means exile, as the cycle of displacement and destruction continues to define life along the Borno–Cameroon border.
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