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Out of 176 Churches In Gwoza, 148 Have Been Burnt Down By Boko Haram – Gwoza Christian Association of Borno State Share Sad Experience
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The Gwoza Christian Community Association (GCCA) in Borno State has detailed how Islamic extremists destroyed 148 out of 176 church buildings in the community.
The report brought to light the harrowing persecution of Christians in the region.
According to GCCA, Boko Haram insurgents burnt down 148 out of 176 church buildings that once stood in the community.
In a detailed statement titled “The Unspoken Genocide: GCCA Account on Christian Persecution in Gwoza, Borno State,” and signed by Rev. Dr. (Arc) Ayuba John Bassa, the GCCA National Coordinator, and Rev. Filibus K. Goma, former EYN President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the group described years of destruction, displacement, and loss. They said Gwoza once had a thriving Christian presence before the insurgency, with entire neighbourhoods in Gwoza East and West flattened and every Christian home destroyed.
The association detailed that 74 towns and villages were sacked, 36,946 families dispersed, and 292 people killed in a single 2013 attack on Gwoza West. In Attagara, 13 churches were destroyed while 1,738 families were displaced, and by June 2014, 2,403 Christian homes and 28 churches had been razed across Gwoza, Kamba, and Gharza. Among the victims were twelve pastors killed by insurgents.
The GCCA described the attacks as part of a “systematic attempt to erase Christians and their heritage” from the region and accused both the Nigerian government and certain Christian institutions of remaining silent in the face of atrocities. “Institutional silence compounds the pain. We are members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and as such, we ask: has CAN been compromised? Has it become a passive observer, unwilling or unable to defend its people?” the statement read.
The association said the reconstruction process in Gwoza has been “highly uneven,” noting that while thousands of Muslim homes have been rebuilt and rehabilitated, “virtually no Christian homes have been restored.” It also highlighted that of the thousands of resettlement houses built, only three belonged to Christians. The GCCA pointed to the case of the Gwoza General Hospital Mosque, which had been a historic symbol of unity, but was damaged by Boko Haram in 2014 and later bulldozed during rehabilitation to make way for a solar farm. “Our repeated appeals went unanswered. We are left to ask whether this is a failure of leadership, a religious bias, or both,” the group lamented.
The report further noted that Christian Religious Knowledge is no longer taught in schools across the local government, Christians have been denied land for worship, and mosques have replaced churches. Before Boko Haram, Christians represented roughly five percent of Gwoza’s population, yet they have now been entirely displaced, with over 107,000 living as internally displaced persons (IDPs) or refugees for more than a decade with little or no government assistance.
The GCCA urged the Nigerian government to fulfil its constitutional duty to protect every citizen, “irrespective of faith,” and to conduct independent investigations to hold perpetrators accountable, ensure equitable reconstruction, and restore the rights of displaced Christians to return home with dignity and safety. “To the Nigerian government: fulfil your constitutional duty to protect every citizen irrespective of faith. Conduct independent investigations, prosecute those responsible for targeted attacks, ensure equitable reconstruction, and restore the right of displaced Christians to return home with dignity and security,” the statement said.
They also called on the international community, including the United States and global human rights bodies, not to ignore what is happening in Nigeria’s northeast and north-central regions, urging for independent humanitarian investigations and targeted assistance for displaced Christians.
Concluding their appeal, the GCCA said: “We have endured atrocities for too long, hoping things would change. They have not. The time for denial and silence is over. Please talk about it until the world knows.”
The statement, shared by journalist Steven Kefas, has reignited public discourse about the persecution of Christians and the long-term devastation caused by Boko Haram in Nigeria’s northeastern region.
The Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri has ordered the remand of a man, Gambo Mohammed, in a correctional facility over an alleged N13.65 million land fraud and money laundering case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mohammed was arraigned before Justice Babagana Shettima by the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on a four-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, obtaining money under false pretences and criminal misappropriation involving a total sum of N13,650,000.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly collected the money from one Umar Abubakar under the pretext of facilitating the purchase of two plots of land located opposite Maimalari Barracks in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
The EFCC alleged that after receiving the funds, Mohammed diverted the money to his personal use instead of completing the land transaction as agreed.
One of the charges filed against him stated that he fraudulently obtained the sum of N13.65 million from the complainant in 2025, purportedly as payment for two plots of land situated at Dubai Musari Ward, opposite Maimalari Barracks in Jere Local Government Area, knowing the representation to be false.
The charge reads in part: “That you, Gambo Mohammed, (a.k.a Modu Gambo), sometime in 2025, within the jurisdiction of this honourable Court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N13,650,000.00 from one Umar Abubakar, purportedly as purchase price for two plots of land situated at Dubai Musari Ward opposite Maimalari Barrack of Jere Local Government, Borno State, which you knew to be false.”
The prosecution maintained that the alleged act contravenes provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
When the charges were read to him in court, Mohammed pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Following his plea, prosecuting counsel, A.D. Abdulmalik, requested the court to fix a date for trial and urged that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre pending the commencement of proceedings.
Delivering his judgement, Justice Shettima subsequently adjourned the matter until July 13, 2026, for a pre-trial conference.
The court also ordered that Mohammed be remanded at the Maiduguri Maximum Security Correctional Facility pending further hearing of the case.
The TinCan Island Port (TCIP) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a revenue collection of N111.2 billion in May 2026, consolidating its status as one of the Service’s top-performing commands.
The newly deployed Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Joseph Anani, disclosed this on Wednesday during his maiden interactive session with maritime journalists at the command headquarters, saying the result reflects improved compliance by stakeholders, operational efficiency, and the commitment of officers.
Anani said the Command would sustain and improve on the performance through stricter enforcement of extant laws, deeper collaboration with stakeholders, and greater deployment of technology to facilitate legitimate trade and boost revenue generation.
“I am pleased to inform you that the Command is currently performing commendably in the area of revenue generation. This positive trajectory reflects the dedication of our officers, improved compliance levels, and enhanced operational efficiency. We intend to consolidate these gains and strive to surpass previous achievements,” he said.
He stressed that strict adherence to the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 would remain central to operations at the command, adding that enforcement would continue to be carried out firmly, fairly, and professionally in line with ongoing modernisation reforms.
The CAC also emphasised the importance of the media in Customs operations, describing journalists as key partners in promoting transparency, accountability, and public enlightenment.
“This meeting marks an important step in our deliberate effort to build stronger bridges of understanding and cooperation between the Command and the media,” he said, noting that stakeholder engagement would remain a priority under his leadership.
He assured that the Command’s Public Relations Unit had been strengthened to ensure timely information sharing and improved engagement with journalists, while also pledging capacity-building support for media practitioners through training and sensitisation programmes.
Anani urged journalists to uphold professionalism and ethical standards in their reportage, warning that accurate and balanced reporting remained vital to sustaining public trust.
He also expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the confidence reposed in him, commending ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning the service for improved efficiency and global competitiveness.
The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has approved the suspension of Chief Mike Ozekhome from the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The decision was taken at its 173rd general meeting held on June 23, 2026.
The committee explained that the action was taken pursuant to Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and all Matters Pertaining to the Rank, pending the final determination of the disciplinary proceedings, presently before the Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee of the LPPC and other proceedings.
In a statement signed by the Chief Registrar, Supreme Court of Nigeria, and Secretary, Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, Kabir Akanbi, the suspension is intended to safeguard the integrity, dignity, and prestige of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, while due consideration is given to the matters under review.
“The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), at its 173rd General Meeting held on 23d June 2026, approved the suspension of Chief Mike Ozekhome from the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
“Accordingly, Chief Mike Ozekhome shall refrain from parading himself, presenting himself, or otherwise holding himself out as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria pending the final determination of the disciplinary proceedings.
“The LPPC remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professional ethics, integrity, and discipline within the legal profession and to ensuring that the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria continues to command public confidence and respect,” the statement added.
Court remands Maiduguri businessmen over N13.6m fraud
TinCan customs generates N111.2bn in May
Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee Suspends Mike Ozekhome As SAN
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