Islamic militants abduct over 300 in northeast Nigeria in mass kidnapping tactic used in past attacks

Islamic militants attacked a town in northeastern Nigeria, abducting more than 300 residents, including women and children, in a large-scale raid that highlights the continuing security crisis in the region.

The assault occurred in Ngoshe, a community in Borno State near the Cameroon border. Local official Bulama Sawa from the Gwoza area said militants stormed the town, seizing hundreds of civilians before fleeing the area.

Authorities believe the attack may have been retaliation for a recent military operation that reportedly killed three commanders of Boko Haram. Although no group has formally claimed responsibility, officials suspect Boko Haram or its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), both of which remain active in the region.

The Ngoshe raid was part of a series of militant assaults across Borno reported between Wednesday and early Friday. Separate attacks were attempted in Konduga, Marte, Jakana and Mainok, but Nigerian troops repelled them. Military spokesperson Uba Sani said several soldiers, including a senior officer, were killed during the clashes.

Borno governor Babagana Zulum later visited displaced residents who fled the violence and promised intensified efforts to rescue victims .

Mass abductions have become a recurring tactic in Nigeria’s insurgency . In the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, militants abducted 276 students, drawing global attention. Similar incidents have occurred in Dapchi, Kankara and Jangebe in recent years.

Analysts say such attacks often follow a pattern in which militants kill some victims and kidnap hundreds , holding them for long periods before negotiations begin. Hostages are sometimes released months or even years later after negotiations or prisoner exchanges involving detained militants.

Nigeria’s northeast has faced insurgent violence since 2009, leaving thousands dead and millions displaced , with Borno remaining the epicentre of the conflict.