Boko Haram terrorists on Thursday launched a deadly ambush on members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Warabe community, Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State, killing eight and leaving three others missing.

The attack occurred around 10:00 a.m. on November 20, as the CJTF volunteers—who serve as the community’s primary line of defense—went out to collect firewood. A local CJTF member confirmed the death toll, noting that all victims were CJTF members except one civilian.

Warabe, located between Pulka and Gwoza town, has no permanent military deployment, leaving the village heavily reliant on the CJTF and local hunters to fend off insurgent attacks.

According to residents, the attackers arrived on at least five motorcycles, with no fewer than 20 armed fighters, while others advanced on foot. The CJTF returned fire but eventually ran out of ammunition. The insurgents then executed the overwhelmed defenders, seized their weapons, and used the victims’ mobile phones to lure other hunters as bait. By the time reinforcements arrived, the attackers had vanished into the bush with the stolen arms.

Three CJTF members remain unaccounted for and are feared abducted. The nearest military base is in Pulka, about 7 kilometres away, while Gwoza town is roughly 15 kilometres from the community, highlighting the vulnerability of residents to insurgent attacks.

The ambush follows a series of recent attacks in Borno. Last week, top military officials, including the Operation Hadin Kai Theatre Commander, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, visited Damboa military base to coordinate rescue operations for abducted personnel following an ISWAP attack that killed two soldiers and two CJTF members. Among the abducted was Brigadier General M. Uba, whose whereabouts remain uncertain.

Military sources revealed that while the general managed to send live location updates, troops were unable to recover him or two other missing soldiers. A soldier captured alongside him was later freed. In response, Brigadier General Mustapha was appointed to lead the 26 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, with other troops previously engaged in the rescue operation withdrawn.

The incident underscores the persistent security challenges in northeastern Nigeria, particularly in communities without permanent military presence, and highlights the continued role of the CJTF and local hunters as frontline defenders against Boko Haram and ISWAP attacks.