Terrorists Claim 29 Lives in Adamawa Village Attack

Suspected terrorists have caused the deaths of no fewer than 29 people in an assault on Sabon-Gari village, located in Guyaku District of Gombi Local Government Area, Adamawa State.

A local resident, Nimfas Bala, informed Daily Trust that the incident took place on Sunday evening around 5:00 pm. At the time of the attack, a significant number of villagers had congregated to watch a local football match.

According to Bala, the assailants descended upon the area, firing shots indiscriminately and triggering widespread panic as attendees and players scattered.

He detailed that the attackers divided into two groups, encircling the community and shooting residents they encountered.

"I personally tallied 29 fatalities, with many others still unaccounted for," Bala stated. He also mentioned that a church was set on fire, resulting in the destruction of musical instruments and plastic chairs.

Bala further reported that the insurgents, who arrived on motorcycles, destroyed 42 motorcycles belonging to spectators and players at the football field.

Additionally, numerous small shops were ransacked, and their goods, including food items, were stolen, he added.

The resident indicated that the militants were later observed heading towards the Sambisa forest region, carrying the pilfered goods.

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who visited the affected village on Monday, corroborated the reported death toll and condemned the attack as "tragic and unacceptable."

He conveyed his sympathies to the families who lost loved ones and pledged to enhance cooperation with security agencies to avert similar incidents in the future.

The local traditional leader, Aggrey Ali, reported that the attackers operated for several hours, carrying out killings and property destruction. He appealed for a stronger security presence in the locality.

Gombi LGA, which shares a border with Sambisa Forest, remains a vulnerable area due to its challenging topography, a factor frequently exploited by insurgent groups.

According to Al Jazeera, which cited a statement released by the group on Telegram, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the attack.