In a series of escalating attacks, Boko Haram terrorists have struck again in northern Nigeria, leaving a trail of death and abduction. In Niger State, 11 people were killed in a midnight raid on a gold mining site, while in Borno State, a prominent university professor was abducted along a major highway.
Midnight Massacre in Niger State
On February 27, 2025, terrorists believed to be from the Mallam Sadiku-led faction of Boko Haram launched a brutal attack on a gold mining site in Karaga, a village near the Alawa forest reserve in Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State. The assailants killed 11 artisanal miners, most of whom were from the garrison town of Bassa and its surrounding hamlets. The victims were reportedly asleep when the attackers struck, sparing only women and minors aged 10 to 12, according to a local vigilante who spoke anonymously.
The attack is suspected to be retaliation for a failed assault on Bassa in October 2024, where five Boko Haram members, including an IED expert, were killed. Since then, the group has resorted to guerrilla tactics, planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and targeting villages with little to no military presence. In December 2024 alone, at least four IED attacks killed three people and injured four others.
The mining site attack highlights the ongoing vulnerability of artisanal miners in the region. Despite a state government ban on illegal mining, activities continue in terror-ravaged areas like Kurebe. This incident is part of a broader pattern of violence targeting mining sites in Niger State. In June 2022, terrorists killed 30 soldiers and kidnapped four Chinese expatriates in Ajata-Aboki, Shiroro LGA. More recently, on August 21, 2024, 13 miners were killed in Unguwar Magiro, Rafi LGA, an area previously affected by lead poisoning.
Professor Abducted in Borno State
Meanwhile, in Borno State, suspected Boko Haram terrorists abducted Abubakar Eljuma, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB), along with other passengers near Kamuya village on the Damaturu-Biu road. The incident occurred on March 2, 2025, as the professor was returning from Maiduguri, where he had visited his family. He was reportedly on his way to attend a meeting at the university when the abduction took place.
The terrorists, believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), released all female passengers but held the male captives, including Eljuma, who is among 30 candidates vying for the position of vice chancellor at NAUB. The university community has expressed deep concern over the incident, which has heightened tensions in the region.
This abduction is the latest in a series of violent incidents along the Damaturu-Biu road, which has become a hotspot for terrorist activities. Five months prior, an academic staff member from the Department of Building was killed on the same road while returning from Maiduguri.
A Growing Crisis
These attacks underscore the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram and its factions in northern Nigeria. Despite military efforts to curb their activities, the group continues to exploit vulnerabilities in remote areas, targeting both civilians and high-profile individuals. As the region grapples with these challenges, calls for enhanced security measures and community resilience have grown louder, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, when many are praying for the safe release of those abducted.
