Borno State: Suspected militants kill 28 villagers

Suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants killed at least 28 villagers in Borno State, Nigeria, during an attack in the Marte Local Government Area. The victims were reportedly gathering firewood, a vital resource for displaced families in the region, when they were ambushed.

Local militia leaders and security sources confirmed that the death toll rose after search teams recovered 13 additional bodies with gunshot wounds in the surrounding bushes. While initial reports cited 15 or 18 deaths, the updated count stands at 28. Some villagers remain missing following the Thursday assault.

The attack is part of a long-standing insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, where armed groups frequently target farmers, loggers, and herders. Military officials stated that troops have launched clearance operations in the area to pursue the attackers.