Suspected members of the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist group on Saturday evening launched a fresh attack on Kautikari village in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, setting a primary school and a day secondary school ablaze and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.
The attack, which reportedly began around 7:00 p.m., is the latest in a series of assaults on the community, underscoring the persistent security challenges facing parts of northeastern Nigeria despite ongoing military operations against insurgent groups.
Kautikari, located in Chibok LGA, has remained vulnerable to repeated attacks by Boko Haram fighters over the years.
The community is situated within a region that gained international attention following the abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in April 2014.
Although security efforts have since intensified across Borno State, many rural communities continue to experience sporadic attacks, kidnappings, and destruction of public infrastructure.
Sources within the area told journalists that residents fled their homes as heavily armed insurgents stormed the village, creating widespread panic. The attackers reportedly targeted educational facilities, setting both the primary and day secondary schools on fire.
Confirming the incident, a security operative who hails from Kautikari but is currently stationed in Maiduguri said villagers were forced to seek refuge in surrounding bushes to escape the assault.
“Yes, I can confirm that our village, Kautikari in Chibok Local Government Area, is currently under attack by Boko Haram terrorists,” he said.
“Our people are running for safety, while two schools—the primary school and the day secondary school—have been set ablaze.”
As of the time of filing this report, the number of casualties and the extent of property damage could not be independently verified.
Residents and local authorities were still assessing the situation amid fears that some villagers may remain trapped or displaced.
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Borno State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls and messages to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, were not responded to before press time.
The latest attack raises fresh concerns over the safety of rural communities and educational institutions in Borno State, where insurgent groups continue to target schools and civilian populations despite years of counterterrorism operations by Nigerian security forces.
