Boko Haram Attacks Adamawa Communities, Kills 7, Destroys Properties Worth Millions
From Umar Dankano, Yola
According to local sources, the attack occurred in the early hours of Wednesday while residents were asleep. The insurgents reportedly stormed the villages, shooting indiscriminately and causing widespread panic and destruction. Six people were confirmed dead at the scene, while one person remains missing.
Among the deceased was a local vigilante who lost his life when an explosive device detonated during efforts to secure the area. In Banga, two men were shot dead, and a woman died after falling in the chaos. In the nearby Larh community, two others were killed under circumstances that remain unclear.
The attackers also destroyed a police patrol van from Garaha using an improvised explosive device (IED). Fortunately, the officers had exited the vehicle shortly before the explosion, narrowly escaping death.
Residents described the incident as “heartbreaking,” expressing deep frustration over the recurring violence and lack of effective security. “We’re losing our people to these monsters, and even our protectors are now targets,” said one community member who requested anonymity.
Adding to the tragedy, a young boy from Banga is still missing. His phone continues to ring without response, raising fears of abduction — a notorious tactic often employed by Boko Haram. The group has a long history of kidnappings, including the infamous 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.
An unexploded bomb was also discovered in Banga, prompting urgent calls for bomb disposal experts to prevent further catastrophe.
This latest assault comes barely two months after similar attacks on Kwapre and other villages in Hong, heightening fears that Boko Haram and its affiliate, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), may be regaining ground in the region.
Locals continue to lament the inadequate security presence. “We feel abandoned,” one villager said. “These attacks keep happening, and we’re left to fend for ourselves.”
Confirming the attack in a telephone interview with journalists, the Executive Chairman of Hong LGA, Hon. Inuwa Usman Wa’aganda, said seven people were killed and several properties destroyed. He added that one victim is currently hospitalized, while another is still missing. He assured that peace has been restored following the deployment of both local vigilantes and conventional security forces to the area.
As of the time of filing this report, no official statement had been issued by the military or police. However, local sources confirmed that troops responded, albeit after the damage had been done.
Residents of the affected communities have called for more proactive and sustained security measures to prevent future attacks and address the persistent insurgency threatening lives and livelihoods in northeastern Nigeria.
