Boko Haram militants captured the border town of Kirawa in Nigeria, thousands of local residents had to flee

More than 5,000 people have fled northeastern Nigeria to neighboring Cameroon after Islamist militants Boko Haram captured the border town of Kirawa in Borno state. Residents and community leaders told Reuters on Friday.

Terrorists have stepped up attacks this year on civilians and security forces in Borno state, the epicenter of the 16-year conflict linked to Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province.

The attack late Thursday forced the district's chief, Abdulrahman Abubakar, to flee his residence, which was burned along with military barracks and dozens of houses. He told Reuters by phone:

“I had no choice but to flee to Cameroon. Residents boarded trucks to seek refuge abroad, while others fled to Maiduguri [the state capital].”

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attack, releasing video of militants setting barracks on fire and chanting “victory belongs to God” as flames lit up the night sky. Residents reported that Kirava is now empty. The head of the Yakubu City Development Group, Mabba Ali Kirava, called for the urgent dispatch of additional military forces to the scene, noting that since August, local watchmen and residents are the only ones trying to maintain order in the area.

Earlier, the Niger army reported the elimination of one of the leaders of Boko Haram during an operation in Lake Chad. According to the military, on August 15, aircraft carried out three targeted strikes on positions on the island of Chilawa in the southeastern region of Diffa. As a result, Ibrahim Mahamadu, known as Bakura, died.