Fear and grief have gripped Zaranga village in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State after suspected Boko Haram fighters reportedly launched a deadly early-morning attack that left 11 people dead and several others missing.
The attackers reportedly invaded the community on Monday, September 7, while residents were still asleep, firing weapons and setting houses ablaze. Residents said the assault sent people fleeing into surrounding bushes and forests as they attempted to escape the violence.
By Monday afternoon, 11 bodies had reportedly been recovered from the community, while security personnel and local search teams continued efforts to locate residents who had not returned home.
A resident familiar with the incident told PUNCH that the search for missing persons was still ongoing.
“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 scale of the tragedy became even more personal for one resident, who said the attack claimed the lives of his wife and two other family members.
“My wife and two of my family members were also killed during the early morning invasion of my village,” he said.
The reported assault has heightened security concerns in Adamawa, a state that has experienced attacks associated with insurgency and other forms of armed violence.
While initial reports identified the attackers as suspected Boko Haram fighters, the identities of those responsible had not been independently established as of the time of reporting. The full circumstances of the attack also remained under investigation.
The Adamawa State Police Command had yet to officially confirm the reported 11 deaths. According to reports, attempts to reach the command’s spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, for confirmation and details of the security response were unsuccessful.
The ongoing search for missing residents means the reported death toll could change as authorities establish the full extent of the attack.
The incident has once again placed the security of rural communities in northeastern Nigeria under scrutiny, particularly communities that can be difficult for security personnel to reach quickly when attacks occur.
As residents await official confirmation, security personnel remain engaged in search operations around Zaranga, while families continue to look for loved ones who remain missing.
Further details are expected as authorities establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and determine the final casualty figure.
