12 Killed, Church Burnt as Gunmen Launch Deadly Attack on Adamawa Community

BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU

At least 12 people have been killed and several others affected after suspected gunmen attacked Nzangula village in Guyaku Ward of Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State in the early hours of Monday.

The attack, which left a trail of destruction in the community, also resulted in injuries, abductions and the burning of homes and a church, according to local authorities.

Chairman of Gombi Local Government Area, Markus Ishaya, confirmed the incident in an interview on Monday, saying reports from the affected village indicated that 12 residents lost their lives during the assault.

He disclosed that two other victims sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Cottage Hospital in Gombi.

According to the council chairman, the attackers also abducted a woman, set fire to an EYN Church building and razed three residential houses, while two shops were vandalised during the invasion.

“Report from Nzangula village of Guyaku Ward, Gombi LGA, stated that 12 people were killed, two were injured and are presently at Cottage Hospital, Gombi. One lady was abducted. EYN Church was burnt. Three houses were also burnt, and two shops were vandalised,” Ishaya said.

The latest attack comes less than two weeks after another deadly assault in neighbouring Hong Local Government Area, where more than 10 people were reportedly killed by terrorists.

Residents of the affected community alleged that suspected Boko Haram insurgents stormed the village in the early hours of Monday, shooting at residents and setting houses ablaze.

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A local resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said search-and-rescue efforts were ongoing as many villagers remained unaccounted for hours after the attack.

“For now, 11 dead bodies have been recovered. Many are still missing. Search teams and security personnel are in the forest searching for the missing people,” the resident said.

Another villager recounted the personal toll of the tragedy, revealing that his wife and two relatives were among those 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.

The attack has heightened concerns over the security situation in parts of Adamawa State, particularly in communities bordering areas that have witnessed repeated insurgent activities.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies and the Adamawa State Government had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, while efforts to account for missing residents and assess the full extent of the damage were continuing.

The latest bloodshed underscores the persistent security challenges facing communities in northeastern Nigeria despite ongoing military operations against insurgent groups in the region.