Boko Haram militants launched a devastating attack on Darul Jamal village in Nigeria’s Borno State, killing over 60 people, including seven soldiers, in a nighttime assault. The attack occurred on Friday, September 5, near the Nigeria-Cameroon border, where residents had recently returned after years of displacement.
The jihadist group stormed the community, shooting indiscriminately and burning houses and vehicles. More than 20 houses and 10 buses were destroyed, and at least 13 drivers and laborers working on reconstruction projects were killed. The death toll includes five soldiers who were part of the military base nearby.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum visited the village on Saturday to assess the damage and console survivors. He expressed sadness over the incident and acknowledged that the community had been resettled just months ago. Zulum also mentioned that the Nigerian army’s numerical strength is insufficient to contain the situation and announced plans to deploy a newly established Forest Guards unit to bolster security.
In response to the attack, the Nigerian Air Force launched counter-strikes, killing over 30 militants who were fleeing the scene. Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame confirmed that surveillance aircraft tracked the insurgents as they attempted to escape northwards, allowing the air force to neutralize them with precision strikes.
This attack highlights the persistent threat of Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria, where the group has waged a brutal insurgency since 2009, displacing over two million people and killing more than 40,000. The incident also underscores the challenges faced by the Nigerian military in containing the militant group’s activities.