Boko Haram: Kirawa is Bleeding, and Leaders are Sleeping
Boko Haram: Kirawa is Bleeding, and Leaders are Sleeping
By Muhammad Albarno
Recent reports from Kirawa, a community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, reveal that Boko Haram continues to exercise full control over the area. With no effective defense in place and absent leadership, civilians are left vulnerable, unable to protect their lives and properties.
Kirawa, known as a major business hub in Borno State, lies in northeastern Nigeria along the border with Cameroon. Despite its commercial importance, the town remains unsafe. Continuous attacks by Boko Haram have left a trail of destruction, lives lost, shops looted, houses and vehicles burnt, plunging the community into fear and uncertainty.
The fresh attack began on Saturday, 9 August 2025, when the sect invaded the town and abducted a 13-year-old schoolgirl, Aisha Muhammad Aja. Since that day, there has been no information about her. Not only that, but properties were also burnt to ashes, which caused a lot of damage. Followed by the second attack, which was on Friday, 26 September, they blocked the road, fired guns on travelers, two civilian JTF were killed, and many traveling vehicles were burnt. And the most recent storm was on Monday night, 29 September, where fear and death merged. Many shops and houses were burnt, and this would cause trauma and displacement.
With all these assaults caused by Boko Haram, no leader speaks for his people. The reason is that even if they do, no one would listen to them. How can this happen when no effective actions are taken by troops and leaders? Ordinary civilian JTF guns cannot compare with Boko Haram’s weapons. And I ask, why is the military absent there? Is Kirawa not a border? How can a boundary survive without defense? Someone says they left it like what they did in Wala and Warabe, for civilian JTF to protect their people, but they forgot that Kirawa is a boundary, not like Wala and Warabe. That means any enemies can transport weapons from other countries to Nigeria while the military are busy doing nothing.
The result of no action means that Boko Haram would come again. What we mean by no action is the absence of Nigerian defense, and the sleep from which our leaders never wake up. This was the third time of the recent attacks, which means a new strike in less than 30 days, but no one speaks. Moreover, not only the Kirawa community but other communities in Gwoza are also facing such challenges. Boko Haram attacks do not affect only business people in Kirawa but also farmers, travelers, and students in Gwoza and other areas of Borno State.
Now, in this time of darkness, who would come and save the people in Kirawa? Who will come and make their breath last? Who will come and speak on behalf of the innocent people? And why Boko Haram? Where is Boko Haram gaining its power? Who produced the weapons they are using? Why are they killing people? And why is the Nigerian government’s mind absent in the northeast, especially in Gwoza? The killing is too much, let the people breathe, let them work. To the Nigerian government, it is your responsibility to protect your citizens, and Kirawa is in Gwoza, and Gwoza is a part of Nigeria.
