Insurgents Attack Chibok Again, One Dead and School Block Burnt

One person was killed, and a school block was set on fire when suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents attacked Kautikari community in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State on Saturday evening.

Kautikari is about 20 kilometers from Chibok town, which is the headquarters of the local government area.

The police confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, Nahum Daso. He told Channels Television that security forces pushed back the attackers after the assault.

"Yes, I can confirm to you that there was an attempted attack on the Kautikari community in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State by suspected ISWAP and Boko Haram insurgents on Saturday evening," Mr. Daso said.

According to the police spokesperson, a report from the divisional police officer in Chibok revealed that the attackers killed a 50-year-old resident and burned school buildings before security forces drove them away.

The Education Secretary of Chibok Local Government Area, Malah Kyari, confirmed that the destroyed structure was a junior secondary school block. He said the insurgents killed one person and set fire to a block with five classrooms and an office at Kautikari Junior Secondary School.

The attackers reportedly entered the community on motorcycles. This attack is the latest in Borno State and raises worries among the residents as the farming season begins.

It also comes at a time when there are ongoing concerns about school safety in the state. On 15 May, suspected Boko Haram insurgents took away several pupils and students from Mussa-Biri Primary School and Junior Day Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area.

That abduction led to a protest by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Borno State. They called on federal and state authorities to do more to secure the release of the kidnapped learners and teachers.

During the protest in Maiduguri, the union’s National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Ibn-Tom, urged the government to ensure a safe and conducive environment for teaching and learning in the state.

In response, the Chief of Staff, Mustapha Malumbe, spoke for Governor Babagana Zulum. He assured the protesters that the state government is committed to improving security in schools and communities.

Attacks on schools and educational facilities continue to be a common issue in the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria’s North-east, despite ongoing military efforts against insurgent groups in the area.