Gunmen have killed at least 29 people in northeast Nigeria, a state governor said on Monday, with local residents reporting that attackers targeted young people gathered at a football pitch. This incident marks the latest wave of deadly unrest in Africa's most populous nation.
Attack in Adamawa State
The attack occurred on Sunday in Adamawa state, which borders Cameroon, a region known for violence by jihadists and criminal gangs. Communal conflicts over land also contribute to the instability. Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri visited the scene and confirmed the death toll, stating that no fewer than 29 people were killed in the Guyaku community in Gombi local government area.
Local resident Philip Agabus told Agence France-Presse: "Our people converged at a football pitch in Guyaku community ... [and] were attacked by insurgents who entered with guns and began shooting randomly." Another resident, Joshua Usman, added that the dead were "youths, including some ladies that were watching football." Attackers also burned places of worship, houses, and motorcycles.
The governor's office cited community leader Aggrey Ali, reporting that the attackers operated for several hours, killing dozens, burning churches, and destroying property. Local television footage showed a burnt church and charred motorcycles.
Responsibility Claimed
Governor Fintiri blamed Boko Haram militants active in the northeast. However, the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility, stating it killed at least 25 Christians and torched a church and nearly 100 motorcycles, according to the SITE monitoring group. Fintiri condemned the attack, vowing it would not go unpunished and promising to intensify security operations to restore peace.
Since 2009, the jihadist insurgency led by Boko Haram and ISWAP has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions in northeast Nigeria, according to the United Nations. The conflict has spread to neighboring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. Nigeria is now seeking technical and training support from the US for its troops amid a resurgence of violence.
Separate Attack and Orphanage Abduction
Another attack occurred on Sunday in the Lamurde area, over 100 kilometers away, which local officials blamed on farmland disputes. Council chair Bulus Daniel confirmed loss of life and property.
Meanwhile, Nigerian security forces rescued 15 pupils after gunmen abducted 23 children and the wife of a school proprietor during a weekend attack on an unregistered orphanage and school in Kogi state. State commissioner Kingsley Femi Fanwo confirmed the rescue and said efforts continue to secure the release of remaining victims. School kidnappings thrive in Nigeria due to weak security and ransom demands, disrupting education and commerce despite government pledges to prevent such incidents.
