Boko Haram fighters launched a lethal raid on two villages in Guzamala LGA: Mallam Moduri and Kijimatari. Utilizing the cover of midnight, the insurgents infiltrated the villages and used "cold weapons" (knives and machetes) to slit the throats of 12 residents while they slept or were caught in their homes. Four others were injured in the melee.
23 Aug 2017 · Mallam Moduri and Kijimatari, Guzamala, Borno
Deaths
12
Injured
4
Kidnapped
0
Total casualties
16
Perpetrators
Boko Haram
Response
Modu Jialta, a member of a local self-defense group in Nganzai, and Mai Abatcha Monguno, commander of citizen defense forces in Guzamala, confirmed the attacks to A
Displacement
0
Socioeconomic drivers
Conserving ammunition and preventing military alert by using silent execution methods.
Trajectory
By August 2017, the group was moving away from Mass Fire (which attracts jets) to Mass Assassination (which attracts no one until it's too late).
Cycle notes
Mirrored earlier attacks by Boko Haram including the 13 February 2016 Yakshari village attack, the 15 June 2016 Kau-Tuva raid, the 24 April 2016 Alau village attack, the 13 December 2014 Gumsuri massacre, and the 10 February 2017 Mussa village raid, collectively reflecting a recurring pattern of coordinated assaults on rural communities where Boko Haram targets isolated villages to kill civilians, injure residents, and destroy livelihoods, reinforcing a broader strategy of instilling fear and asserting control over remote settlements through repeated village-level violence.
Pattern
Village Massacre & Throat-Slitting
Related — Armed Attack
Boko Haram insurgents stormed Hurgo and Mission communities at night, firing at residents and forcing a mass exodus toward neighboring localities within the same ward.
Suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked St. Mary‘s Catholic Church during Sunday service in Waga Chakawa (also known as Chakawa) village, Madagali Local Government Area, Adamawa State. The attackers, armed with AK‑47 rifles and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), were reportedly wearing military uniforms, leading some residents to initially mistake them for soldiers. The gunmen first killed two police officers—an inspector and a sergeant—who were guarding the church. They then locked the congregation inside the building, detonated bombs, and shot or slit the throats of those attempting to escape through windows. After the church massacre, the militants went on a four‑hour rampage through the village, burning houses and taking residents hostage, including women, children and the elderly. The attack lasted from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Communications in the area were blocked by authorities.
In a series of coordinated pre-dawn raids, armed Fulani militants attacked at least six villages. The attackers were heavily armed with assault rifles and machetes. They shot men, women, and children indiscriminately, slit throats, and set homes ablaze. In many cases, they removed the private organs of victims.