by Nigerian News24 Correspondents
Hundreds of residents of Kirawa in Borno State, displaced by a recent Boko Haram raid, are now living a life split between two countries—spending daylight hours in Nigeria and retreating across the border into Cameroon at night for safety.
The border community, under Gwoza Local Government Area, was attacked on Saturday, leading to the withdrawal of troops and sparking mass displacement into nearby Cameroonian villages. Residents say they now sleep on open roads, inside mosques, and in classrooms to escape the threat of renewed insurgent strikes.
“This is the first time we are experiencing such fear since our community was resettled years ago,” said the District Head of Kirawa, Abdulrahman Abubakar. “Our people now shuttle between two countries. We urgently need the government to restore security so we can return to normal life.”
One resident, Buba Aji, described conditions in Cameroon as “disturbing and inhumane,” recounting how heavy rain on Monday night forced many to sleep soaked in the open while others found shelter in mosques and schools. “There are no Nigerian soldiers in our community at the moment. The Cameroonian Joint Task Force has also returned to their country. We need urgent help before the insurgents come back,” he pleaded.
Another resident, Atahiru Lawan, estimated that up to 90% of the population had crossed into Cameroon. “Our people are on the streets, without shelter, food, or aid. We are pleading with the government to rescue us,” he said.
The Special Adviser on Security to Governor Babagana Zulum, Gen. Ishaq Abdullahi (retd.), assured that the state government was aware and taking action.
Saturday’s assault left soldiers dead and a schoolgirl, Aisha Muhammad Aja, abducted. However, the Nigerian military disputed reports that its troops were the target, saying the attackers struck a Cameroonian base in Kirawa.
Local leaders strongly rejected this narrative. “There are no Nigerian soldiers in Kirawa,” said Yakubu Mabba, chairman of the Kirawa Development Association. “If anyone doubts our claims, they can visit and see for themselves. Our security has been in the hands of foreign troops for years.”
A schoolteacher, also named Buba Aji, said the stationed forces—Cameroon’s elite BIR unit—speak French and little or no English, making communication difficult. He recounted how sporadic gunfire began around 9 p.m., forcing residents to flee toward the riverbank near an immigration post. The insurgents torched the district head’s home and a nearby shop before retreating at midnight.
For many residents, the real concern is not the nationality of the soldiers but the lack of lasting protection. “We are talking about survival here,” one displaced resident said. “Foreign troops are leaving, a schoolgirl is still missing, and we fear the attackers will come again.”