Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
The Borno State Police Command has condemned a deadly attack on a nomadic herders’ settlement in Wuturo, located in Konduga Local Government Area of northeastern Nigeria, attributing the assault to suspected members of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist factions. The incident, which occurred in the late hours of 10 March 2026, resulted in the death of one herdsman, the injury of another, and the theft of approximately 1,400 sheep.
According to an official statement released on 11 March 2026 by ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Borno State Command, the attack was reported to the Konduga Police Division by representatives of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association Konduga shortly after the incident occurred at about 10:30 p.m. (2230hrs).
Community witnesses described how unknown gunmen mounted on five motorcycles stormed the nomadic settlement under cover of night. The attackers opened fire on residents, striking two herdsmen in the assault. The victims were identified as Ahmadu Baida, aged 40, and Mohammadu Baida, aged 30. Ahmadu sustained fatal gunshot wounds and was later pronounced dead on arrival at a nearby hospital, while Mohammadu suffered a gunshot injury to his left leg and is reported to be responding positively to treatment after being evacuated for medical care.
In addition to killing one herdsman and injuring another, the attackers forcibly seized about 1,400 sheep belonging to the settlement’s residents. The mass rustling of livestock reflects an ongoing trend in the region where armed groups frequently target pastoral communities to disrupt livelihoods and profit from stolen animals through resale or barter within criminal networks.
The attack on Wuturo’s nomadic settlement comes against a backdrop of persistent insecurity in southeastern Borno State, where insurgent factions linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continue to mount raids on rural communities, ambush convoys, and abduct civilians. The vast terrain, including forests, bushland, and isolated grazing areas, has allowed such groups to operate with relative freedom, consistently threatening both sedentary and nomadic populations.
Upon receiving the distress report, a combined security response team immediately mobilized to the attack scene. The deployment included officers from the Nigeria Police Force, elements of the Nigerian Army, and other security stakeholders such as the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and local hunters. The joint operation was led by the Divisional Police Officer of Konduga and reflects coordinated efforts to respond quickly to emerging threats in the area.
Following the rescue and evacuation of the injured victim, security forces began tactical and intelligence‑informed operations aimed at tracking down the perpetrators, preventing further attacks, and recovering the rustled livestock. Police officials stated that assets and patrol units have been strategically deployed across the affected area and adjoining communities to deter further incursions and reassure residents.
In his statement, Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, psc, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state. The police expressed condolences to the family of the deceased herdsman and called on local residents to remain vigilant, report any suspicious movements or persons, and assist security agencies with information that could lead to the arrest of the attackers.
The Command also provided emergency contact numbers—0806 807 5581 and 0802 347 3293—to facilitate timely reporting of threats or suspicious activities linking to criminal elements in the area.
State security sources indicate that the use of motorcycles by armed attackers remains a common tactic in Borno and neighbouring states. Insurgent factions frequently exploit remote routes and creek networks to launch attacks at night when visibility is low, and community defences are limited. This mode of operation has made it challenging for security forces to pre‑empt every raid but has driven an increased emphasis on intelligence gathering and community policing strategies.
The attack also highlights the vulnerability of nomadic pastoral settlements, which often lack permanent security presence and are scattered across rural landscapes. Pastoralists, who frequently move across seasonal grazing routes that sometimes cross state and international boundaries, are particularly susceptible to assaults that can leave families bereaved and livelihoods shattered.
Recent months have seen a rise in similar incidents involving raids on villages, kidnapping of travellers along isolated roads, and attacks on livestock herders in parts of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Taraba states. Analysts note that such attacks are not solely about livestock theft but are linked to broader insurgent strategies aimed at undermining rural communities, disrupting food production, and creating instability that can be exploited for recruitment or territorial control.
Security officials have responded with a mix of increased patrols, community‑based intelligence sharing, and joint operations involving military and paramilitary units. The integration of local vigilante groups, such as the CJTF and hunters, into response frameworks is intended to leverage indigenous knowledge of the terrain and social networks to counter insurgent movements more effectively.
The Borno State Police Command’s response to the Wuturo attack underscores the ongoing challenges faced by security agencies in protecting remote communities while balancing resource constraints and the expansive geography of the northeast. The command’s assurance that intensified operations are underway aims to both deter further attacks and reassure civilians that authorities are actively addressing security threats.
As investigations continue, authorities in Borno and federal security agencies are expected to analyse patterns of attacks for predictive insights and to refine deployment strategies accordingly. The pursuit of the assailants and the recovery of rustled livestock remain priorities for security forces operating in the Konduga area.
Members of the public in Borno State and beyond are reminded to report suspicious movements promptly to security agencies, in a bid to enhance early warning systems that could prevent similar violent incidents in the future.
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