Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have launched a deadly midnight raid on a nomadic settlement in Borno State, killing one herder, wounding another, and making off with approximately 1,400 sheep in one of the most brazen livestock rustling attacks the region has seen in recent months.
The Borno State Police Command confirmed that the attack occurred at Wuturo village, a nomadic settlement near Konduga town in Konduga Local Government Area. The incident was reported to the Konduga Police Division by members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.
According to a statement by the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Kenneth Daso, the attack occurred on March 10, 2026, at approximately 10:30 pm, when unknown gunmen riding on five motorcycles invaded the settlement. Preliminary investigations revealed that during the attack, one Ahmadu Baida, 40, sustained fatal gunshot injuries, while another, Mohammadu Baida, 30, sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg. The attackers also rustled about 1,400 sheep belonging to the herdsmen.
Upon receipt of the report, a combined team of the police, military, and other security stakeholders — including the Civilian Joint Task Force and local hunters — was swiftly mobilised to the scene, led by the Divisional Police Officer of Konduga. No arrests had been announced at the time of this report, and it was not immediately clear whether any of the rustled livestock had been recovered.
The attack is the latest in a renewed wave of insurgent activity sweeping across Borno State. Earlier this month, troops of Operation HADIN KAI confirmed that Boko Haram and ISWAP launched coordinated assaults on military positions in Dalwa, Goniri, Kukawa, and Mainok during the night of March 8 to 9, with terrorists attacking from multiple directions in a bid to overwhelm troop positions. A separate attack on the community of Ngoshe in Gwoza Local Government Area also resulted in the deaths of an unspecified number of civilians, soldiers, and insurgents, confirmed by Senator Ali Ndume.
The Wuturo attack also underscores a well-documented pattern in the insurgency’s financing model. According to a former fighter familiar with the group’s operations, livestock rustling — often followed by the sale of animals through affiliated networks across the border into Cameroon — is among the most lucrative sources of income for the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad faction, with each fighter reportedly earning around 300,000 naira monthly from such activities.
The Borno State Police Command condemned the attack and assured residents that security forces remain committed to protecting lives and livelihoods in communities across the state.