Boko Haram insurgents have stormed Zaranga village in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State in a deadly early-morning attack that reportedly left at least 11 people dead, with several others still missing.
The attackers reportedly invaded the community in the early hours of Monday, shooting residents and setting houses ablaze as terrified villagers fled for their lives.
A resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the incident, confirmed the attack and said search operations were ongoing for residents who could not be accounted for.
He said at least 11 bodies had been recovered following the attack, while security personnel and local residents were combing surrounding forests for people who fled during the invasion.
“For now, 11 dead bodies have been recovered. Many people are still missing. Search teams and security personnel are in the forest searching for the missing people,” the resident said.
The attack reportedly began at a time when many residents were still asleep, with the sudden sound of gunfire throwing the community into panic.
Residents were said to have scrambled for safety as the insurgents moved through the village, shooting at people and setting houses on fire.
The violence left several families devastated, with one resident confirming that his wife and two other members of his family were killed during the invasion.
“My wife and two of my family members were also killed during the early morning invasion of my village,” he said.
Many residents reportedly escaped into nearby forests in an attempt to evade the attackers. Some have yet to return, prompting continued search operations by residents and security personnel.
The number of casualties could therefore rise as the search for missing residents continues.
The attack has renewed fears among residents of Gombi and surrounding communities over the security situation in rural parts of Adamawa State, particularly communities located far from major towns and security formations.
For residents, the incident has also raised fresh concerns about the capacity of security agencies to provide timely protection for vulnerable communities and respond quickly to attacks in remote areas.
The latest violence adds to the continuing security challenges confronting communities across parts of northeastern Nigeria, where insurgent attacks have over the years resulted in deaths, abductions, displacement and destruction of property.
Despite the reports from residents, the Adamawa State Police Command had not officially confirmed the attack or the reported death toll as of the time of filing this report.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, did not respond to calls and messages seeking his reaction to the development.
There was also no official statement from the police or other security authorities confirming the number of people killed, missing or injured in the attack.
As a result, the reported death toll of 11 could not be independently verified as of press time, while the exact number of missing residents remained unknown.
Details concerning the number of houses destroyed or burnt, the identities of the victims and whether any residents were abducted were also unavailable.
Search efforts were reportedly continuing in the surrounding forests as residents and security personnel worked to locate people who fled the community during the attack.
The incident has left Zaranga residents mourning and anxious, while the absence of an official account has further heightened uncertainty over the full scale of the attack and its casualties.