Many people have been killed in Gwoza after Boko Haram insurgents raided a military base and attacked the community, the police say.

In a statement on Thursday, the police spokesperson, Nahum Daso, said the assailants stormed a military base around 1am on Wednesday before proceeding to the community.

“Suspected terrorist group attacked a military base in Gwoza around 1:00 a.m. on the 4th (March). The military were able to repel them,” the statement said. “Although an unknown number of civilians yet to be ascertained were also affected and killed, some are still missing, and probably some were abducted and taken towards the Mandara Mountain.”

While noting that the community has been stabilised, Mr Daso said that investigations are ongoing to determine the total number of victims affected in the incident.

“As of now, the community is calm. I am aware that the military has taken charge. As of now, we have not finished getting the total number of those that were taken away, so if the chief imam is currently missing, we will verify and make a public statement,” the police statement said.

Ali Ndume, a federal lawmaker representing Borno South, in an interview on Thursday, decried the alleged absence of a stationed attack helicopter in the northeastern part of the country, making it difficult for the military to respond swiftly to attacks.

“Let me also reiterate that the inability of the military to have a stationed attack helicopter(s) in the whole of the North East is a serious threats, even the few attack helicopters or fighter jets and Tucanos that were available have relocated to the North West and Central, which is very difficult to access them when there is strike in any parts of the North East,” Mr Ndume explained.

Meanwhile, army chief Waidi Shaibu recently reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s resolve to decisively tackle terrorism, insurgency and other security threats with renewed vigour.