On Saturday (August 30), members of Islamic extremist group Boko Haram killed five Christians in Nigeria’s Borno state, while three others killed in another part of the state on Sunday, sources said.
Terrorists killed five Christians working on a farm in Ngoshe village in Gwoza County, attacked Mussa village in Askiraba County on Sunday (August 31) and killed three Christians who were sleeping at home, said community resident Hauwa Samuel.
“Christians here continue to face challenges from constant threats and attacks from Boko Haram terrorists,” Samuel said in a message to Star News for Christian Daily International Morning.
Police and military authorities in Borno State confirmed the attack, citing the killings on both Saturday and Sunday (August 30-31).
“Yes, there have been two incidents in which Boko Haram rebels attack two communities in the local government areas of Gwoza and Askira Uba,” state police spokesman Nanam Kenneth said. “Reports from two local officials have shown that five people have been killed in the Ngoshe community in the Gwoza Municipal Area and three others have been killed in the Mussa community in the Askira-Uuba Municipal Area.”
Reuben Kobangiya, a spokesman for the Nigerian military in Borno State, also confirmed the attack.
“Our staff are committed to ensuring that these attacks will be reduced and we will ensure that the community in Borno state is protected by all means at our disposal,” Kovangiya said.
Sen. Muhammed Ali Ndumu, a member of the Nigerian National Assembly, representing Borno South, said extremists in Boko Haram also burned dozens of homes in the attacks on Sunday.
“Yes, it’s true that Boko Haram terrorists continue to attack communities in southern Borno,” Ndume said.
A statement from the Senator’s office, signed by Congressional aide Junade Givlin, further said ndume discovered the attack was heartbreaking and deeply painful, and that repeated targeting of innocent citizens, especially farmers and young people, was a cruel reminder of lingering anxiety in southern Borno.
“I am deeply saddened by these meaningless murders,” Ndume said in a statement. “Our people are the only people who pursue peace and livelihoods continue to fall victim to the cruelty of the rebels. These men and women were not worthy of their farms and dreams, but their lives were shortened by those who thrive in violence and destruction.”
Boko Haram, officially known as Jamā’at Ahl As-Sunnah Lid-Da’wah Wa’l-Jihād, is trying to impose Sharia (Islamic law) across Nigeria. The jihadist extremist group based in northeastern Nigeria saw the split in 2016, causing an emergency in the Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP).
The name Boko Haram has long been translated as “Western education is forbidden,” but the group says it should translate as “Western civilization is forbidden.” Boko Haram rebels believe that other Muslims who do not participate in the jihad are pagans and therefore believe that they justify killing them and killing “apostates.” This position is considered part of strict Salaphysihathism, but is not mainstream Islam.
According to Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List, Nigeria has remained one of the most dangerous places for Christians. According to WWL, of the 4,476 Christians killed for faith around the world during the reporting period, 3,100 (69%) were in Nigeria.
“The scale of anti-Christian violence in this country is already at the highest possible level under the global watch list methodology,” the report states.
Nigeria ranked 7th in the 2025 WWL list of 50 worst countries for Christians.
