Boko Haram Attacks Leave Over 60 Dead in Borno State, Nigeria

Sat Sep 13 2025 05:09:53 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A recent attack by Boko Haram in Nigeria's Borno State has resulted in the deaths of more than 60 individuals, including soldiers, raising concerns over the resurgence of militant activity in the region.

The jihadist group Boko Haram launched a deadly attack on the village of Darul Jamal in Borno State, Nigeria, killing at least 60 people, including soldiers. The assault also destroyed homes and infrastructure, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in the region as Nigerian forces respond to the threat with air strikes. Governor Babagana Zulum emphasized the dire situation in Borno, where many residents had recently returned after prolonged displacement. The attack marks a resurgence of violence amid ongoing challenges with regional security forces.

Boko Haram Attacks Leave Over 60 Dead in Borno State, Nigeria

The jihadist group Boko Haram has killed more than 60 people in an overnight attack in Nigeria's north-eastern Borno State, local officials report.

On Friday night, militants struck the village of Darul Jamal, which is located near a military base on the Nigeria-Cameroon border, claiming the lives of at least five soldiers.

The Nigerian Air Force stated that it neutralized 30 militants in response to the raid after receiving reports of the attack in the area, where residents had only just returned following years of displacement.

This assault is indicative of a worrying resurgence in jihadist activity in north-eastern Nigeria, where Boko Haram and rivals, including the Islamic State in West Africa, have ramped up their attacks.

In addition to the deaths, the attack led to the destruction of over 20 houses and 10 buses, as well as the fatalities of 13 drivers and laborers involved in local reconstruction efforts. Borno Governor Babagana Zulum expressed his sorrow over the attack, emphasizing that this community had only recently been resettled and was striving to return to normalcy.

Governor Zulum pointed to the inadequate numerical strength of the Nigerian army to sufficiently address the violence, announcing that a new force called the Forest Guards would be introduced to strengthen local security efforts.

Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame reported that surveillance revealed militants fleeing the scene post-attack, and in a coordinated response, their forces executed three successive air strikes resulting in the deaths of over 30 insurgents.

This incident adds to the heightened military operations in north-eastern Nigeria following a series of targeted attacks against military formations. In April, the governor warned of Boko Haram's resurgence as militants regained a foothold in certain parts of the state.

The ongoing insurgency, now over 15 years old, has displaced more than two million individuals and resulted in over 40,000 deaths, particularly during Boko Haram's peak in 2015 when it controlled significant territories in Borno.

Recently, challenges intensified after Niger withdrew troops from a regional force previously set up to combat the jihadist group. Boko Haram initially gained international infamy with the abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls from Chibok in April 2014, further complicating the security landscape in the region.