Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has condemned the killing of at least 58 residents and five soldiers in an attack on the Darajamal community in Bama Local Government Area. The assault, which occurred late Friday, is the latest in a string of violent strikes blamed on Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria’s northeast.
Zulum, visibly shaken during a visit to Darajamal on Saturday, commiserated with grieving families and described the incident as “very sad.”
“We are here to commiserate with the people of Darajamal over what happened last night that has claimed the lives of many people. It is very sad,” the governor said. “This community was settled a few months ago, and they go about their normal activities, but unfortunately, they experienced a Boko Haram attack last night. Our visit is to commiserate with them and build their resilience.”
Confirming the scale of the attack, Zulum added, “At this moment, we have confirmed that 63 people lost their lives, both civilians and military, although the civilian casualties are more. Close to about 60 civilians and five soldiers lost their lives.”
The governor warned that Nigeria’s overstretched military cannot fully secure all vulnerable communities across Borno and pressed for immediate deployment of the newly trained Forest Guards to reinforce the security effort.
“We have to take note that the numerical strength of the military is not enough to cover everywhere,” he said. “So far so good, two sets of Forest Guards have been trained; therefore, one of the solutions that we need to implement immediately is to deploy the trained Forest Guards to most of the locations that are vulnerable, they will protect the forest and communities.”
The attack has drawn wider outrage. Senator Kaka Lawan, who represents Borno Central where Darajamal is located, condemned the killings as “a crime against humanity” and pledged legislative support to bolster security and restore peace.
The massacre underscores the enduring threat Boko Haram and its splinter groups pose in Borno State, despite years of military operations. The group’s insurgency, which began in 2009, has left thousands dead and displaced millions across Nigeria’s northeast, fueling one of Africa’s most severe humanitarian crises.