Dozens of people have been killed in a deadly attack in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state.
At least 55 people have been confirmed dead in an attack on Friday night in the village of Darul Jama, where displaced people have returned after a long time. According to locals
Boko Haram fighters entered the village on motorcycles, opened fire indiscriminately and set houses on fire. Babagana Ibrahim, a commander of a pro-government militia, told AFP that six soldiers were among the dead.
He said 70 bodies had been found by Saturday morning and many more were still missing in the forest. He said the militants had gone door to door, killing men and sparing women. More than 20 houses and 10 buses were destroyed in the attack. The area is believed to be under the control of Boko Haram commander Ali Ngulde, who led the attack, AFP reported, citing security sources.
Local resident Babagana Mala said that although the army was aware of Boko Haram activity three days ago, no additional reinforcements were sent, and that they and the soldiers had to flee to the town of Bama after the attack.
Since Boko Haram began a violent insurgency in 2009 with the aim of establishing a caliphate, nearly 40,000 people have been killed and more than 2 million displaced.
The Islamic State in West Africa Province, which broke away from the group in 2016, has recently become more active.
In the first six months of 2025 alone, there have been nearly 300 attacks, killing more than 500 civilians.
