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At least 60 people, including residents and travellers, have been killed in a brutal attack by Boko Haram terrorists in the Bama Local Government Area of Borno State.
According to Yerwa Express news, thee killings occurred around 9pm on Friday when the insurgents stormed Darul Jamal, a recently resettled community near Banki Town, unleashing violence that lasted through the night.
Eyewitnesses and security sources said the terrorists opened fire indiscriminately, targeting unsuspecting residents and travellers who were passing through the area.
“At least 59 civilians and five soldiers were killed. Yet, several others have gone missing,” a local source told reporters.
Among those confirmed dead were seven drivers and six labourers from Bama Town and Maiduguri who had been engaged in reconstruction efforts in the community.
Many displaced persons who had recently been relocated to Darul Jamal from the Government Science Secondary School IDP camp were also among the victims.
The attack left behind widespread destruction, with more than 20 houses and 10 buses set ablaze by the terrorists. Families searching for their loved ones fear the death toll may rise as dozens remain unaccounted for.
Darul Jamal’s tragedy marks a devastating setback for resettlement efforts in Bama.
A decade ago, the LGA was one of the worst-hit by Boko Haram, forcing residents to flee in one of the largest waves of displacement in the region’s recent history.
After years of military operations, the town was reclaimed, and resettlement began in 2016.
The latest massacre underscores the persistent insecurity that continues to threaten both returnee communities and those travelling through the troubled northeast corridor.
The state police command is yet to react to the development while calls put through to the Public Relations Officer of the Borno Police Command, Daso Nahum Kenneth failed to go through as of the time of filing this report.
In May, SaharaReporters reported that Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State banned the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol in filling stations across the Bama Local Government Area of the state.
The governor said that the directive, announced on Saturday, is part of the state government’s intensified efforts to address persistent security challenges in the state.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Dauda Iliya.
