Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have launched a series of brutal attacks on Christian communities in northeastern Nigeria, causing significant loss of life, abductions, and the displacement of thousands. The violence has primarily targeted villages in Adamawa State’s Gombi Local Government Area (LGA), as well as locations in Benue and Plateau states.
Deadly Night Raid in Dzangola Kilba, Adamawa State
On the night of Thursday, October 15, suspected Boko Haram fighters attacked the farming village of Dzangola Kilba in Gombi LGA. The assault began around 9 p.m. and lasted until dawn the following day. Eyewitnesses reported that David Barnabas, an evangelist affiliated with the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN), was locked inside his home, which was then set ablaze, resulting in his death.
While local residents estimated the death toll at approximately 30, official confirmation from police or government authorities remains unavailable. This attack marks at least the third violent incident in Dzangola Kilba within recent months. Earlier, on September 6, suspected Boko Haram insurgents killed at least a dozen people, injured others, burned a church, and looted shops, according to statements from local officials.
The village, predominantly Christian, has suffered repeated assaults that have destroyed homes and community structures. During the October attack, militants also stole food supplies, domestic animals, and cooking utensils, transporting them to a nearby stronghold.
Displacement and Security Challenges in Gombi LGA
As a result of ongoing violence, over 4,000 residents from Gunyaku, Tela-Bala, Sabon-Gari, and Nzangula have fled their homes and are currently displaced in towns such as Yola and Gombi. One displaced resident, Shehu Inuwa, lamented the loss of his farm, which was grazed upon by Fulani herders, leaving him unable to provide for his family.
Although about 50 soldiers and forest guards were deployed in the area following the September killings, they reportedly withdrew at nightfall on October 9, leaving communities vulnerable to further attacks. No official response has been issued by the Adamawa State Police Command, the state government, or the military’s Operation Hadin Kai regarding the mid-October raid.
Continued Violence in Gombi LGA and Military Clashes
On the night of October 17, insurgents on foot attacked the villages of Tela-Bala and Guyaku, also in Gombi LGA. Reports indicated that four soldiers and one forest guard were killed, though these figures have not been officially confirmed. The militants attempted to advance on Gombi town but were repelled by reinforced military forces. At a checkpoint in Guyaku, attackers tried unsuccessfully to seize a military armored personnel carrier, resorting to close-range gunfire after failing to burn it.
Despite the severity of these incidents, Operation Hadin Kai and local officials have remained largely silent, with some responses limited to brief acknowledgments.
Kidnapping and Rescue in Benue State
In Benue State, the security situation remains precarious. On October 13, Rev. Fr. John Inalegwu Otache, parish priest of St. Margaret’s Parish in Ajegbe-Awume, was abducted by kidnappers along the Otobi Amejo–Ajegbe Road in Ohimini LGA. The Benue State Police Command confirmed the kidnapping and stated that efforts were underway to secure his release.
Fortunately, on October 18, police and local vigilantes successfully rescued Otache along with three other abductees from the same area. All four were taken to a hospital for treatment. No ransom payments or arrests have been reported in connection with the kidnappings.
Fatal Attacks on Vigilantes in Plateau State
Violence has also struck Plateau State, where gunmen killed four vigilantes on duty in Shurum village, Dorowa Babuje District, Barkin Ladi LGA, late on October 16. Residents described the victims as community members protecting their villages when attacked. The Berom Youth Moulders Association confirmed the deaths and called for thorough investigations and prosecution of those responsible.
Additionally, two young men were killed at a mining site in Burdinga, Gashish District, within the same local government area. These attacks have been attributed to radical Islamic Fulani militias, though police have not issued official comments.
Context of the Insurgency and Impact on Christian Communities
The affected communities lie near the Sambisa Forest in neighboring Borno State, a known stronghold for Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Earlier this year, attacks in Guyaku and Tela-Bala resulted in 29 deaths, with ISWAP claiming responsibility.
The U.S. State Department has designated Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organization since 2013 and ISWAP since 2018. The Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN), to which the slain evangelist Barnabas belonged, has been particularly hard hit by the insurgency. Its president, Rev. Daniel Mbaya, reported that over 700,000 members have been displaced, with approximately 25,000 seeking refuge in neighboring Cameroon and Chad.
Church leaders have also noted that about 300 of EYN’s 586 churches have been destroyed by fire. The Christian Association of Nigeria’s Hong chapter secretary, Mbafe Manasseh, highlighted that eight Christian communities have been completely displaced, emphasizing that these areas are entirely Christian.
Conclusion: A Persistent Crisis with Limited Official Response
The recent spate of attacks by Boko Haram and affiliated groups in Adamawa, Benue, and Plateau states underscores the ongoing security challenges facing Nigeria’s Christian communities. Despite repeated assaults resulting in deaths, kidnappings, and mass displacement, official responses have been limited or delayed. The insurgency continues to destabilize the region, with devastating humanitarian consequences and a pressing need for sustained security and protection efforts.
Source: Read the original reporting.
