Boko Haram Kills 2 Christian Education Workers Near Army Base

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Boko Haram insurgents recently targeted Christians traveling near a Nigerian army base along the deadly Damboa–Maiduguri highway, killing two Christian teachers and injuring several others.


The victims, Blessing Luka and Gideon Bitterleaf — both devoted Christian educators with the Damboa Local Education Authority — were killed Monday morning when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly planted by the Islamic terror group.


The attack occurred just miles from Damboa town, near a military checkpoint that has seen multiple assaults in recent months. Eyewitnesses told International Christian Concern (ICC) that the victims were seated in the front of a commercial Toyota HiAce van transporting mangoes to Maiduguri when the explosion ripped through the vehicle, killing the two Christians instantly. The other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries and were taken to the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri.


“This is a targeted assault not only on innocent Christians but on Nigeria’s hope for recovery through education,” one local said. “Blessing and Gideon served with love and courage in one of the most dangerous regions in the country.”


The Damboa–Maiduguri highway, once vital for trade and access to schools, churches, and hospitals, has become a blood-soaked route of terror. Boko Haram and its rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have turned this 54-mile road into a death trap — using landmines, ambushes, and abductions to terrorize civilians and deter humanitarian operations.


Despite repeated attacks and growing calls for protection, the Nigerian government has yet to respond publicly to the incident or announce additional security measures.


“Our Christian communities are exhausted from burying loved ones,” a local pastor said. “We need security, not silence.”


Amnesty International condemned the attack, calling Boko Haram’s use of IEDs on public roads and their ongoing campaign against civilians, particularly Christians, a violation of international humanitarian law.


“These are war crimes,” the organization stated, urging Nigerian authorities to act swiftly.


Since March, Boko Haram has intensified its bombing and abduction campaign across Borno state, often singling out Christian communities, farmers, and women. The insurgency, which began in 2009, has displaced more than 2 million people and devastated livelihoods in northeast Nigeria.


Christian Rights Activist Gata Moses called on the Nigerian government and international partners to take immediate steps to protect Christian communities, ensure justice for victims, and hold Boko Haram accountable for its atrocities.