Members of Islamic extremist group Boko Haram on Saturday killed five Christians in Borno state, Nigeria, and three others in one other area of the state on Sunday, sources said.
The terrorists killed five Christians working on their farms in Ngoshe village, Gwoza County, and on Sunday (Aug. 31) attacked Mussa village in Askira-Uba County, killing three Christians as they slept of their homes, said area resident Hauwa Samuel.
“Christians here have continued to face challenges from constant threats and attacks from Boko Haram terrorists,” Samuel said in a message to Christian Daily International-Morning Star News.
Police and military authorities in Borno State also confirmed the attacks, citing the killings on each Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 30-31).
“Yes, there have been two incidents of Boko Haram insurgents attacking two communities in Gwoza and Askira-Uba Local Government Areas,” said Nanum Kenneth, state police spokesperson. “Reports from our officers within the two areas showed that five individuals were killed at Ngoshe community, in Gwoza Local Government Area, while three others were killed in Mussa community in Askira-Uba Local Government area.”
Reuben Kovangiya, spokesperson for the Nigerian military in Borno State, also confirmed the attacks.
“Our personnel have been working assiduously to make sure that these attacks are curtailed, and we assure communities in Borno state that they shall be protected by all means at our disposal,” Kovangiya said.
A member of Nigeria’s National Assembly, Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, said Boko Haram militants also burned dozens of homes in Sunday’s attack.
“Yes, it’s true that Boko Haram terrorists have continued their attacks against communities within the southern a part of Borno state,” Ndume said.
An announcement from the senator’s office signed by his legislative aide, Junaid Jibrin, further stated that Ndume found the attacks heartbreaking and deeply painful, noting that repeated targeting of innocent residents, especially farmers and youths, is a cruel reminder of the lingering insecurity in Borno South.
“I’m profoundly saddened by these senseless killings,” Ndume said within the statement. “Our people, whose only pursuit is peace and livelihood, proceed to fall victim to the cruelty of insurgents. These men and ladies deserved to live, to farm and to dream, but their lives have been cut short by those that thrive on violence and destruction.”
Boko Haram, officially referred to as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, seeks to impose sharia (Islamic law) throughout Nigeria. The jihadist militant group based in northeastern Nigeria saw a split in 2016 that resulted within the emergency of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The name Boko Haram was long translated at “Western education is forbidden,” however the group says it ought to be translated as “Western civilization is forbidden.” Boko Haram insurgents imagine other Muslims who don’t join their jihad are infidels and thus justify killing them in addition to “apostates.” This position is taken into account a part of strict Salafi jihadism but not mainstream Islam.
Nigeria remained amongst essentially the most dangerous places on earth for Christians, in line with Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of the countries where it’s most difficult to be a Christian. Of the 4,476 Christians killed for his or her faith worldwide through the reporting period, 3,100 (69 percent) were in Nigeria, in line with the WWL.
“The measure of anti-Christian violence within the country is already at the utmost possible under World Watch List methodology,” the report stated.
Nigeria ranked seventh on the 2025 WWL list of the 50 worst countries for Christians.
