Fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) stormed Kwaple village, near the town of Chibok in Borno State, on several motorcycles. The militants opened fire on residents who had gathered to mourn the death of a community leader in the village. The attackers pursued fleeing mourners on motorcycles into the surrounding bush, killing at least 14 people and abducting many others. The assailants also burnt an Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN) church in the area, about five houses, and other property. The attack lasted for almost an hour without reprisal from security agents.

Perpetrators

ISWAP

Response

The Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area, Modu Mustapha, confirmed the attack . Victims with injuries were evacuated to Mubi General Hospital in nearby Adamawa State for treatment . A mass burial for the dead victims was conducted on Tuesday, 29 April 2025 . The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, had previously decried renewed Boko Haram attacks, stating the state was "losing ground" in the fight against insurgents

Socioeconomic drivers

The attack on mourners represents a deliberate strategy to maximize psychological terror, exploit community vulnerability, and send a message that no gathering — even a funeral — is safe from insurgent violence.

Trajectory

The attack on Kwaple was part of a wave of violence in Borno State in late April 2025.

Cycle notes

This incident echoes previous attacks on mourners and funeral gatherings by insurgent groups in northern Nigeria. The tactic of targeting funeral processions has been documented in the 31 October 2023 Yobe State attack where mourners returning from a burial were killed by a landmine, and the 2023 Buni Gari attack where insurgents killed a villager and then ambushed the recovery party. The targeting of Kwaple also reflects the persistent vulnerability of communities near the Sambisa Forest, a long-standing insurgent enclave since the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping.

Pattern

Funeral/Mourner Massacre

Sources

• https://leadership.ng/14-mourners-killed-others-missing-in-fresh-chibok-attack/
• https://punchng.com/just-in-terrorists-kill-mourners-abduct-others-in-borno/
• https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/04/death-toll-rises-to-14-in-boko-haram-invasion-of-chibok-village-as-church-houses-razed/