Tension has gripped several communities in Adamawa State following another round of violent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, marking the third major incident in the area over the past two months.
The latest assault targeted villages in the Hong Local Government Area, a region that shares a border with the notorious Sambisa forest, widely known as a stronghold of the insurgents.
Banga and Larh, two quiet communities in the area, were thrown into panic in the early hours of Wednesday as gunmen stormed the villages, killing residents and destroying properties.
At least six people were confirmed dead. Among the victims was a local vigilante member who lost his life after a bomb exploded during the chaos.
Two men were shot dead in Banga, while a woman died while fleeing. In Larh, two more individuals were also killed, although details of their deaths remain unclear.
Residents are now questioning how the attackers continue to strike repeatedly despite security patrols and intelligence reports pointing to their movement routes.
Locals argued that permanent security checkpoints along the known invasion paths could help prevent further bloodshed.
“This is the fourth attack in recent months. We expected more vigilance from the authorities,” a community member told our reporter.
In a disturbing turn of events, a police vehicle stationed in Banga was destroyed by an explosive device. Fortunately, the officers had vacated the vehicle just before the blast, avoiding what could have been additional casualties.
The violence did not end with the deaths and destruction. An undetonated explosive was also discovered in Banga, triggering fear among residents who now await the arrival of bomb disposal experts to neutralize the threat.
The whereabouts of a young boy remain unknown after the attack.
His family said his phone continues to ring, but no one answers—raising concerns that he may have been abducted.
Boko Haram has a history of kidnappings, including the infamous abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in 2014, many of whom are still missing.
The latest assault follows a similar attack in February 2025 on Kwapre and nearby villages in the same local government, reinforcing fears that the terror group remains active despite official claims that its operations have been significantly weakened.
Frustration continued to grow among residents, who say they feel abandoned by the government.
“We’re not safe. They come, attack, kill and leave, and no one is here to stop them,” one villager lamented.
While there has been no official statement from the military or police authorities, reports suggest that security forces eventually responded to the attack, although they arrived after the damage had been done.
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