Suspected Boko Haram militants kill at least 15 in Nigeria's Borno State, police say. 3 missing

Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least 15, with reports suggesting up to 18 villagers who were collecting firewood near Marte Local Government Area in northeastern Nigeria's Borno State on October 2nd. The attack occurred late Wednesday and early Thursday, primarily targeting the villages of Ala, Gummna, and Musune, located approximately 80 miles northeast of Maiduguri, the state capital. Villagers have increasingly come under threat while venturing into areas controlled by insurgents for daily activities such as farming and gathering firewood. The traditional ruler of Marte confirmed at least 18 bodies were recovered after the ambush. In response to these attacks, troops launched clearance operations in the region to pursue the attackers. This ongoing insurgency, primarily led by Boko Haram and its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions over the past 17 years.