Widespread grief and anger swept through northeastern Nigeria this weekend after Boko Haram militants unleashed a devastating nighttime assault on the recently resettled community of Darajamal in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State. The attack, which began late Friday, September 5, 2025, left at least 63 people dead—including five soldiers—and reignited fears over the safety of communities returning from displacement camps in a region long scarred by insurgency.
According to The PUNCH, the militants struck around 10 p.m., storming the village on motorcycles and opening fire indiscriminately on residents. Survivors described a harrowing ordeal, with attackers torching houses, shops, and vehicles as they rampaged for several hours before military reinforcements could arrive. Among the dead were six construction laborers who were not local residents, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence.
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, visibly shaken during his visit to the village on Saturday, confirmed the grim toll. "At this moment we have confirmed that 63 people lost their lives, both civilians and military, although the civilian casualties are more. Close to about 60 civilians and five soldiers lost their lives," Zulum told journalists, as reported by Anadolu Agency. He added, "This community was settled a few months ago and they go about their normal activities, but unfortunately, they experienced a Boko Haram attack last night. Our visit is to commiserate with them and build their resilience."
The attack quickly drew condemnation from Nigerian officials and the international community. The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, called the massacre "appalling" and urged authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. "I am deeply appalled and saddened by Friday’s reported killing of dozens of civilians in Darajamal Village, Bama LGA. Civilians should never be a target," Fall said, according to the UN. He noted that at least 28 houses were burned during the attack and warned that the number of casualties could rise as more information became available.
Many of the victims had only recently returned to Darajamal after being relocated from the Government Secondary School displacement camp in Bama, which was closed earlier this year. Hajja Fati, a mother of five who lost her brother in the attack, voiced the anguish felt by many: "The government told us we would be safe here. Now we are burying our people again," she told AFP.
The Nigerian Air Force responded swiftly to the bloodshed. In a statement reported by local media, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the Air Force, in coordination with ground troops, carried out a series of three precise strikes against fleeing militants, resulting in the deaths of more than 30 insurgents. "On arrival at Darajamal, the aircrew visually identified friendly forces before ISR scans revealed terrorists fleeing northwards from the town towards nearby bushes. In a series of three precise and successive strikes, the fleeing terrorists were decisively engaged, resulting in the neutralisation of over 30 insurgents," Ejodame stated.
Security sources identified the notorious Boko Haram commander Ali Ngulde as the likely leader of the assault, according to AFP. The area has long been contested by rival jihadist factions, including the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which split from Boko Haram in 2016. Analysts say that the faction responsible for Friday’s killings, Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awat wal-Jihad (JAS), has increasingly targeted civilians suspected of collaborating with ISWAP or the Nigerian military.
Borno State has endured more than 15 years of insurgency, with Boko Haram’s campaign—launched in 2009—leaving tens of thousands dead and displacing millions across northeastern Nigeria and neighboring countries. The conflict has evolved since the group split following the death of its longtime leader Abubakar Shekau in 2021, with ISWAP focusing on military targets and JAS resorting to attacks on civilians, robberies, and kidnappings for ransom, as detailed by The Associated Press.
Despite military gains in recent years, including the recapture of strongholds and the killing of key commanders, large parts of Borno remain perilously exposed. Governor Zulum lamented the shortage of military manpower and called for the immediate deployment of newly trained Forest Guards to bolster security in vulnerable communities. "We have to take note that the numerical strength of the military is not enough to cover everywhere. So far, two sets of Forest Guards have been trained, therefore one of the solutions that we need to implement immediately is to deploy the trained Forest Guards to most of the locations that are vulnerable. They will protect the forest and communities," he said.
The massacre in Darajamal comes amid a worrying resurgence of jihadist violence in the region. According to Good Governance Africa, the first half of 2025 saw approximately 300 jihadist attacks that killed around 500 civilians, with ISWAP gaining ground over the more fractured Boko Haram remnants. ISWAP reportedly overran at least 17 Nigerian military bases during this period, aided by increased use of drones, night-time attacks, and foreign fighters.
The challenges facing Nigeria’s security forces are compounded by broader regional dynamics. Neighboring Niger’s recent withdrawal from a key multinational task force has stretched the Nigerian military even further, especially as it grapples with a separate banditry crisis in the northwest. Economic hardships under President Bola Tinubu have also fueled grievances that armed groups exploit, analysts told AFP.
Local leaders echoed calls for a more robust response. Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, highlighted the limitations faced by local vigilantes armed only with basic weapons. "Men of the Civilian Joint Task Force, hunters and vigilantes have been doing their best, but they have limitations, as they only carry den guns and sticks, which they find very difficult to confront the terrorists," Ndume said, according to The PUNCH. He urged the federal government and military to prioritize what he called TEAM—Technology, Equipment, Arms, Ammunition, and Motivation—as the only way to end over a decade of Boko Haram atrocities.
Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno Central) described the killings as "a crime against humanity" and pledged legislative support for efforts to restore peace. Meanwhile, Bama’s local government chairman, Modu Gujja, reported that more than a dozen houses were burned and over 100 people forced to flee, adding to the region’s humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations warned that the violence in Borno has spilled into neighboring Adamawa and Yobe states, with attacks targeting markets, rural health centers, grain stores, farmers, fishermen, and travelers. For many in Darajamal, the latest bloodshed rekindled haunting questions about whether peace and stability will ever truly return to northeastern Nigeria.
As authorities scramble to reinforce security and provide food and lifesaving items to those affected, the people of Darajamal—and countless others across the region—are left to mourn their dead, rebuild their shattered lives, and hope for a future free from the shadow of terror.