Boko Haram terrorists attacked the election collation centre in Kukareta (also called Kuareta) village, about 20 kilometres from Damaturu on the Damaturu‑Maiduguri road. The insurgents fired sporadically for about an hour, burnt the district head’s palace and two patrol vehicles, and killed three people – a mobile police officer and two civilians – before being repelled by security operatives.
4 Feb 2024 · Kukareta, Damaturu, Yobe
Deaths
3
Kidnapped
3
Total casualties
3
Perpetrators
Boko Haram
Response
State Security Adviser Major‑General Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd) confirmed the attack and casualties. Security operatives repelled the attackers, and the collation centre was secured.
Displacement
0
Socioeconomic drivers
By burning the district head’s palace and targeting security personnel, the insurgents aimed to terrorise the local population and send a message that no one – not even traditional leaders – was safe.
Trajectory
The attack highlights the ongoing security challenges facing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the vulnerability of election logistics in remote parts of the northeast.
Cycle notes
Mirrored earlier attacks including 01 May 2019 – Daura abduction targeting a traditional authority figure, 31 October 2018 – Dalori/Kofa attacks involving village raids and destruction of civilian infrastructure, 14 August 2019 – Polo military base attack within a major urban center, 07 January 2020 – Monguno assault targeting both military and civic infrastructure, and 02 February 2024 – Gajiram police station attack on a security institution, collectively reflecting a recurring pattern in which Boko Haram targets symbols of governance—election facilities, traditional leadership structures, and security personnel—to disrupt democratic processes, undermine state authority, and instill fear among civilian populations during politically sensitive periods in northeastern Nigeria.
Pattern
Election Related Violence & Attack on Government Infrastructure & Security Forces
Related — Armed Attack
In Mangu LGA specifically, gunmen attacked the Bauda community in Langai District in the early hours of Tuesday, June 8, killing seven persons, injuring others, and razing about 61 houses including a COCIN church
Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members attacked a gum arabic factory in the Zajeri Industrial Area of Maiduguri. The assailants stormed the premises around 1:00 PM, demanded money from the Indian expatriate workers, and then opened fire. The attack killed two Indian nationals and injured three others. The attackers fled in an unmarked vehicle, chanting “Allahu Akbar.” Reports confirmed that the gunmen stole about ₦99,000 (≈ US$600) before escaping.
A large gang of heavily armed gunmen (estimated at over 15) attacked two police stations and two banks in Gombi town, Adamawa State. The attackers, who arrived in vehicles and on motorbikes, used explosives and automatic rifles to overwhelm security at the police stations, freeing suspects, carting away weapons, and then proceeded to the banks where they shot staff and customers before looting money. They were heard chanting “Allahu Akbar” during the operation.