Terror during holy week: iswap kills 12 christians in chibok, nigeria

Nigeria

#Nigeria

During Holy Week 2026, a terrorist attack shocked the Christian community of Kautikari, a village located on the outskirts of Chibok, in the southern Borno state of Nigeria

On the night of Monday, March 30, militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) invaded the village and killed 12 Christians.

The attackers, estimated at over 200 heavily armed men, arrived on foot through the hills near the Sambisa Forest.

They faced courageous resistance from local volunteers, who attempted to defend the village for over two hours.

Without support from military forces, the defenders eventually retreated.

The terrorists then looted food, stole animals, and damaged two churches, without setting them on fire.

Among the victims was Yohanna Peter, a young man who was to be married the following day and who helped guard the community.

Another victim was Mallam Bumto, a respected hunter commander who had returned from Lagos shortly before the attack.

Dr. Pogu Bitrus, president of the Middle Belt Forum and a resident of the region, confirmed the facts in contact with journalists and expressed deep shock: “I am very surprised that you have not yet learned that the Christian community of Kautikari, right next to my town of Chibok, was attacked and 12 people were killed on Monday.

Are we a forgotten people””

He added that the attack has all the characteristics of ISWAP and lamented the lack of military assistance during the confrontation.

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representative of South Borno, also confirmed the incident and criticized the lack of adequate equipment for the Nigerian security forces.

According to him, the Army needs fighter jets, drones, and armored vehicles to confront the entrenched groups in areas such as the Sambisa Forest, the Mandara Mountains, and the Lake Chad region.

Chibok has been known worldwide since 2014, when Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls from a school.

Although many have been rescued or released over the years, dozens remain missing.

This region has suffered similar attacks in the past, such as the one in 2022 in the same village of Kautikari, when three Christians were killed and a church destroyed.

This most recent episode reinforces the ongoing suffering of Christian communities in northeastern Nigeria, who have lived for over a decade under the constant threat of jihadist groups.

The victims’ families now face grief and insecurity, while the local population calls for more effective protection and concrete government action to end this wave of violence.

Published in 04/02/2026 03h32

Portuguese version

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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