A chilling video clip surfaced yesterday, purportedly showing armed members of Boko Haram executing two staff members of the Red Cross in the Ngoshe Community of Gwoza Local Government Area, Borno State.
The graphic footage, which has not yet been confirmed, depicts the brutal killings, further intensifying fears regarding the resurgence of violence in a region still healing from years of conflict.
Recent reports highlighted a disturbing trend of violence in Gwoza, including the murder of local farmers and the abduction of numerous residents.
Terrorists have also been accused of looting crops from fields in both Gwoza and Kirawa towns. The situation has raised alarm among local authorities and humanitarian organizations striving to provide aid in the area.
In the video, the unidentified leader of the terrorist group speaks in Hausa, expressing his grievances against security forces while boasting about their recent actions.
“Many of our elders and children have been molested by security agencies,” he stated. “But Allah, in his infinite mercy, has successfully led to the arrest of some staff working with the Red Cross, as well as some elderly women, including one of my sisters.”
The leader continued, threatening further violence: “This is in addition to the successful killing of many security agencies and infidels and our great enemies. With these saboteurs we have captured, one of the females is my sister, but because these women appear to be old in age, we will allow them to go free while we execute the remaining enemies.”
The harrowing footage shows the victims being killed with an axe, while accomplices can be heard chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) during the act, demonstrating the brutal reality faced by those living under Boko Haram’s reign of terror.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who represents the Gwoza region in the Nigerian Senate, condemned the violence, stating, “I just watched the video too and am trying to verify its authenticity. Notwithstanding, this has confirmed all my cries to the federal government and the whole world… that the resilient people of Gwoza, especially farmers who have resettled back to their ancestral homes after decades of Boko Haram atrocities, are still undergoing various forms of renewed attacks.”
The senator’s remarks underscore the growing concern regarding the safety of civilians in Borno State, particularly as humanitarian efforts struggle to gain a foothold in areas plagued by violence.
Attempts to reach Yuxia Jiang, Communication Delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), for confirmation and comment on the incident have so far been unsuccessful.
The escalating violence by Boko Haram highlights the ongoing crisis in Nigeria’s northeastern region, where communities continue to face threats from armed groups, leading to significant humanitarian challenges.
With farmers attempting to return to their lands, the recent killings of aid workers raise serious questions about the safety of humanitarian efforts in the region.
As international observers watch closely, the situation remains precarious, with calls for increased support and intervention to protect vulnerable populations in conflict-affected areas.
