Borno State was thrown into mourning at the weekend as no fewer than 63 persons, including soldiers, were killed in a renewed onslaught by Boko Haram insurgents in Darajamal, Bama Local Government Area.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, who visited the stricken community on Saturday, confirmed the casualty figure while consoling bereaved families. Among the dead were five soldiers and 58 civilians — many of them returnees who had only resettled in the community two months ago after years in displacement camps.
Visibly shaken, Zulum described the killings as heartbreaking, noting that the state government would not abandon survivors in their grief.
“We are here to commiserate with the people of Darajamal. Sadly, this community that was resettled only a few months ago has again been attacked by Boko Haram, resulting in heavy loss of lives. Our mission is to console the families and build their resilience,” the governor told residents.
The governor also confirmed plans to subsidise the cost of petrol for farmers in insurgency-hit communities at ₦600 per litre, as part of measures to ease their hardship.
Beyond relief measures, Zulum called for the urgent deployment of newly trained Forest Guards to bolster military operations in vulnerable settlements, stressing that the overstretched armed forces require additional manpower to secure the vast forests where insurgents operate.
Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, representing Borno Central, condemned the killings, branding them a “crime against humanity” and urging stronger security interventions..
