At least 63 people, including five soldiers, have been killed following a renewed attack by Boko Haram insurgents on Darajamal, a resettled community in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who visited the community on Saturday, confirmed the death toll, describing the assault as a devastating setback for families who had only recently returned after years of displacement.
The victims, mostly civilians, were killed on Friday night when insurgents stormed the village, shooting indiscriminately and torching homes. The attack occurred barely two months after the state government resettled hundreds of displaced residents back into the community.
Speaking during his condolence visit, a visibly shaken Zulum said:
“We are here to commiserate with the people of Darajamal over what happened last night that claimed many lives. This community was resettled a few months ago, but unfortunately, they experienced a Boko Haram attack last night. Our visit is to console them and build their resilience.”
The governor lamented that the Nigerian military lacked the manpower to secure all vulnerable areas across the state. He disclosed plans to immediately deploy newly trained Forest Guards to assist the army and other security forces in protecting rural communities and preventing further incursions by insurgents.
“The numerical strength of the military is not enough to cover everywhere. Two sets of Forest Guards have been trained, and one of the solutions we must implement immediately is to deploy them to vulnerable locations to protect forests and communities,” Zulum stated.
In a show of solidarity, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, who represents Borno Central, condemned the killings, describing the massacre as a crime against humanity.
The latest bloodshed underscores the continued threat posed by Boko Haram and its splinter groups in the North-East, despite repeated claims of successes by the military in recent months.
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum announced that his administration would introduce interventions, including a subsidy that will make petrol available to farmers in insurgency-hit areas at ₦600 per litre, to help ease their struggles and strengthen local resilience against the impact of the prolonged insurgency.
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