On November 12, seven people – including mothers and children, among them two daughters of a local pastor and a baby – were kidnapped during an attack on the Shikarkir district in the Chibok area of “”Borno State, Nigeria
Local sources confirmed the incident, which left the community in shock and fear.
A resident of Chibok described the atmosphere of sadness and insecurity that grips the place.
“I am shocked and saddened by the attack in Shikarkir,” he said.
“My heart goes out to the families of the victims.
It’s heartbreaking that this happens every week in Chibok.
The silence is deafening – we need to demand action from our leaders and support the troops to end this senseless violence.”
This kidnapping is part of a wave of attacks against Christian villages in southern Borno, a region that has suffered from violence from insurgent groups for more than a decade.
Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to raid remote rural communities, burning churches and taking residents away, even with military operations underway in the area.
Just days earlier, on the night before the incident in Shikarkir, suspected Boko Haram militants attacked the village of Pemi, also in Chibok.
According to the Sahara Reporters website, the invaders destroyed a church building before being repelled by troops from Operation HADIN KAI.
There were no deaths, but two residents – Mallam Bukar, 30, and Yama Sumai, 40 – were shot and taken to Yola General Hospital in the neighboring state of Adamawa, where they are receiving treatment.
Counterinsurgency expert Zagazola Makama reported that security forces, along with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and local hunters, managed to drive out the attackers after hours of gunfire.
“The terrorists stormed Pemi around 10:30 p.m., firing indiscriminately,” Makama explained.
“Security forces reacted quickly and successfully repelled the attack.”
Chibok has become a symbol of the persecution of Christians in northern Nigeria since the mass kidnapping of schoolgirls by Boko Haram in 2014 – many of whom have never been found.
In recent months, residents report that attacks have intensified, occurring almost weekly in local communities.
These incidents occur amidst growing international pressure on the Nigerian government to address what the United States government recently described as “systematic violence against Christians.” The U.S. has designated Nigeria as a Country of Special Concern (CSC) due to ongoing violations of religious freedom and failure to protect vulnerable communities.
In response, Nigerian authorities have expressed optimism about greater counterterrorism cooperation with the United States.
Daniel Bwala, special advisor to President Bola Tinubu for Media and Policy Communication, said in an interview with Arise Television that Tinubu and US President Donald Trump share an interest in combating terrorism and promoting global security.
“Both President Tinubu and President Trump have common interests in fighting insurgency and all forms of terrorism against humanity,” Bwala stated.
He highlighted that Trump authorized the sale of weapons to Nigeria, which have been used effectively in the fight against terrorism, and mentioned the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders in Washington or Abuja to discuss joint efforts.
The attacks in Chibok underscore the ongoing struggle of Christian communities in northeastern Nigeria, who remain vulnerable to kidnapping, violence, and displacement despite the military presence.
Residents are calling for stronger protection and consistent government action to restore peace and security in the region.
This was the third attack recorded in Chibok in less than a month, demonstrating the persistent threat to Christian families in Borno State.
Published in 11/15/2025 16h28
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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