Dozens of Boko Haram fighters in trucks and motorcycles stormed Kwarangulum village on Christmas Eve. The insurgents shot at fleeing residents, looted food supplies (including prepared chickens for Christmas meals), burned homes, and set a church ablaze. The attackers were believed to have come from the Sambisa Forest enclave
24 Dec 2019 · Kwarangulum, Chibok, Borno
Deaths
6
Injured
3
Kidnapped
2
Total casualties
9
Perpetrators
Boko Haram
Response
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum confirmed the attack, stating six people were killed and three injured, and expressed condolences
Displacement
0
Socioeconomic drivers
To inflict maximum psychological trauma by striking on a major religious holiday.
Trajectory
By late 2019, the Shekau faction specialized in holiday harassment, timing raids to coincide with Christian festivals to increase global visibility and punish communities for their religious identity.
Cycle notes
Mirrored earlier insurgent attacks including 25 December 2017 – Molai attack attempting infiltration of Maiduguri on Christmas Day, 26 December 2016 – post-Christmas suicide attacks targeting civilian gathering, 24 December 2015 – Maiduguri and surrounding village raids during Christmas celebrations, 27 July 2019 – Badu Kuluwu massacre targeting a funeral gathering for maximum impact, and 31 October 2018 – Dalori/Kofa/Bulaburin coordinated raids on civilian populations and IDP camps, collectively reflecting a recurring pattern in which Boko Haram deliberately times attacks to coincide with symbolic or high-attendance events—particularly religious holidays—to maximize psychological impact, inflict civilian casualties, and reinforce sectarian messaging while sustaining visibility despite territorial losses.
Pattern
Village raid
Related — Armed Attack
Gunmen attacked security operatives along the Otukpo–Ohimini axis in Benue State, killing two officers and carting away their rifles.
A large group of heavily armed Boko Haram gunmen launched a coordinated assault on the divisional police station in Jama’are, Bauchi State, and a nearby commercial bank. The attackers used a combination of high‑caliber small arms, improvised explosive devices, and petrol bombs to breach the station‘s defenses. The assailants set the police station on fire and also set the bank ablaze, looting its vault. The assault, which occurred late on Monday night, was characterized by its speed and brutality, aiming to seize weapons and demoralize the local security apparatus.
A large group of suspected Fulani herdsmen/mercenaries launched a coordinated assault on four villages in Agatu LGA, Benue State – Olegaje, Ogumogbo, Ejuma and the LGA headquarters Ogbagaji. The attackers invaded the communities simultaneously at about 10 pm when most residents were asleep, razing houses and firing indiscriminately. At least 19 persons, including women, children and the elderly, were killed, while 17 others were abducted to an unknown destination. The victims showed no bullet or machete wounds, leading the Benue State Government to allege that “poisonous gas” or chemical weapons may have been used. The Benue State Commissioner for Information, Justin Amase, stated that state investigations uncovered “200 persons were killed by the invaders and these people had no cut or bullet wounds.” The attack occurred amid a wider wave of violence in Benue State that included similar incidents in Gwer West and Guma LGAs.