MAIDUGURI, Borno (AP) 鈥� Islamic militants attacked a remote village in northeastern overnight, killing 11 people and leaving two critically injured, local officials said Wednesday. It was the latest violence in Africa鈥檚 most populous country that has long been battling a .
The attack took place late on Tuesday in Pubagu, a community in a remote area on the fringes of Sambisa forest in Borno state, the epicenter of Nigeria’s long fight against an Islamic insurgency. Villagers said they buried the victims on Wednesday and attributed the attack to the extremist group.
The local council chairman, Mwada Saidu Uba, told The Associated Press that the village had previously been considered a safe haven.
鈥淧ubagu is one of the locations in our council area that had never suffered such an attack until yesterday,鈥� he said after the funerals. The two injured were receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, he added.
Usman Rumirgo, a local ward official, said the assailants set several houses ablaze before leaving the area.
Vulnerable rural communities regularly come under fire from Islamic extremists and bandits who take advantage of Nigeria鈥檚 vast rural areas and security gaps.
Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups active in Nigeria are and its breakaway faction, affiliated with the Islamic State group and is known as Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP. There is also the IS-linked Lakurawa, as well as other 鈥渂andit鈥� groups that specialize in kidnapping for ransom and illegal mining.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
