By Usman Abubakar Maiduguri
The last is not heard about allegations of religious genocide in Nigeria.
The Gwoza Youth Forum (GYF), from Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, Sunday, November 16, denied allegations Christian genocide in the LGA by the Gwoza Christian Community Association (GCCA).
The allegations of genocide and persecution are contained in an advertisement by the GCCS, titled “The Unspoken Genocide,” and published on Page 25 of Leadership Newspaper edition of 30th October 2025.
“We are gathered here to address a matter of profound importance, a matter that touches the heart of truth, justice, and peaceful coexistence among our people,” Bulama Ali Haruna, GYF
National Chairman, told newsmen in Maiduguri.
The Gwoza Youth Forum (GYF) presents this verified press statement in response to the publication issued by the Gwoza Christian Community Association (GCCA) in the Leadership Newspaper of October 30, 2025,
Flanked by several leaders and members of GYF, Haruna recalled the deaths of respected leaders, both Muslims and Christians, including the Emir of Gwoza, the Chief Imam of Gwoza, Secretary of COCIN Church, the District Head of Ngoshe, District Head of Takombare, Principal of Government Day Secondary School Izge, and a local headmaster, all of whom were brutally murdered by Boko Haram insurgents.
“These facts confirm that Boko Haram’s campaign was not a war against any religion, but rather an assault on humanity, peace, and lawful order,” he argued.
The GYF leaders recalled that for over a decade, Gwoza Local Government Area underwent extensive destruction
and human suffering encountered by both both Musk Ms and Christians.
“We the GYF empathise with the pain and trauma endured by the Christian community, the claim of a “Christian genocide” is inaccurate, misleading, and divisive,” Haruna debunked, arguing, “both Muslims and Christians were victims.
“The insurgents indiscriminately destroyed homes, schools, markets, mosques, churches, and assassinated both religious and traditional leaders in Gwoza,” he said.
Listing over 30 communities sacked by the insurgents, he recalled that Boko Haram destroyed 134 Eid grounds, 356 Juma’at mosques, 3,044 other mosques, and 97 churches across Gwoza Local Government, arguing, “These numbers leave no doubt that, “the destruction was indiscriminate, not faith based.
He recalled that, beyond religious structures, the insurgency devastated vital public infrastructure: Four general hospitals; Ngoshe, Kirawa, Ashagashiya, and Gwoza General Hospitals were destroyed, along with over 24 primary healthcare centers; More than 107 primary and Universal Basic Education (UBE) schools; and 15 senior secondary schools were burnt down.
“The insurgency spared no one,” Haruna argued, explaining, “Among the Muslim/Christians victims were the Emir of Gwoza (late Alh. Shehu Mustapha Idrisa Timta), the Chief Imam (Sheikh Bamanga), Secretary of COCIN Church (Mr Ayuba), District Head of Ngoshe (Mohammed Aga), District Head of Takombare (Hakimi Yahaya Audu), Principal of Government Day Secondary School Izge (Malam Abubakar), Headmaster (Alh Musa Hassan), Class Teacher (Bulus Dogo) and Local
Government Staff (Mr. Iliya Simon Tada) all killed in cold blood, Whom we all known are leaders.”
Haruna recalled that from June 2013 to 2015, hundreds of Muslims/Christians were repeatedly massacred:
Between 15 and 20 June 2013, 30 Muslims were killed in Ngoshe. On 24 June 2013, the Vice Principal of Government Girls Secondary School Ngoshe, Malam Mohammad Aga, was murdered.
Between November 2013 and June 2014, massive killings occurred across
several communities in Gwoza. On 1 June 2014, in Agapalawa, Amuda, Jubrili, Zamga, Agajanra, Angurva, Attagara, and Gavva, 198 Muslims/Christians were killed. Between 3 and 18 June 2014, more were massacred.
During Juma’at prayers on 27 June 2014, worshippers were attacked and killed.
In Izge, 106 people were murdered whom we are onown Muslims. On 11 August
2014, at Sheikh Adamu Babbada Islamic School, 22 students were killed, and
on 27 August 2014, at Tashan Damboa, 75 elders and Islamic scholars were
slaughtered by the insurgent.
Suicide bombings — many carried out by female bombers — targeted mosques, marriage gatherings, and Islamiyyah schools. Between 2024 and 2025, over 448 Muslims were killed, kidnapped and slaughtered in Yamtake, Pulka, Kirawa,
Ngoshe, and Gwoza, among others.
GYF reviewed the scale of destruction, remarking that over 3,500 Islamic structures and 97 churches disproves claims of selective genocide through Boko Haram insurgency.
“Therefore, Describing the Gwoza calamity as a “Christian genocide” distorts the truth undermines reconciliation, and threatens the breakable peace our people are rebuilding,” he argued.
“While the GCCA alleged that Christians in Gwoza Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State were victims of a targeted religious persecution, the GYF hereby provides verifiable evidence and factual documentation showing that the insurgency in Gwoza was never a religiously motivated genocide,” the GYF leader argued.
“Both Muslim and Christian communities suffered immense losses of lives, places of worship, and livelihoods because of Boko Haram’s indiscriminate attacks,” he said.
