On the night of September 5, 2025, the village of Darul Jamal in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria, was plunged into terror as Boko Haram militants launched a devastating assault that left more than 60 people dead. Survivors and local officials described a scene of chaos and heartbreak as gunmen stormed the community, which had only recently been resettled after years of displacement due to previous Boko Haram attacks.
According to The Associated Press, the attack began late Friday when armed members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS)—a faction of Boko Haram notorious for targeting civilians—descended on the village. Residents like Mohammed Babagana recounted the horror: "At least 60 people" were killed that night. Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, who visited the devastated area on Saturday, confirmed the grim toll and promised support for the survivors. "We sympathize with the people and have pleaded with them not to abandon their homes as we have made arrangements to improve the security and provide food and other lifesaving items that they have lost," Zulum stated, as reported by The Associated Press.
Eyewitnesses described the militants arriving on motorbikes around 8:30 p.m., shooting indiscriminately and setting homes ablaze. The traditional head of Darul Jamal, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, said, "They went house to house, killing men and leaving women behind. Almost every household is affected." By the morning of September 6, 70 bodies had been recovered, though some residents were still missing in the surrounding bush. Among the dead were seven soldiers and several workers involved in reconstruction efforts, as noted by both Reuters and DW.
The destruction was widespread. Local council chairman Modu Gujja reported that more than a dozen homes were set on fire and over 100 villagers were forced to flee. The attack, he said, was one of the worst the region had seen in recent months. The violence also destroyed 20 houses and 10 buses, according to the traditional leader, who added that seven drivers and six laborers from Bama and Maiduguri were among those killed.
Darul Jamal’s tragedy is compounded by the fact that the village had only been re-established in July 2025, following military operations that had temporarily cleared Boko Haram from the area. Many of the victims were people who had returned from displacement camps, hoping to rebuild their lives in their ancestral homes. "We had been warning the military for three days about Boko Haram gathering near our town, but no action was taken," resident Babagana Mala told Reuters. "They overwhelmed the soldiers, who fled with us to Bama."
Boko Haram’s insurgency in Nigeria began in 2009, born out of a violent opposition to Western education and a desire to impose a radical version of Islamic law. Since then, the group has caused the deaths of around 35,000 to 40,000 civilians and displaced over two million people, according to United Nations figures cited by multiple outlets including AP and DW. The conflict has spilled into neighboring countries, destabilizing the broader Lake Chad region.
The group itself has undergone significant changes over the years. Following the death of its longtime leader Abubakar Shekau in 2021, Boko Haram split into two main factions. One, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), is backed by the Islamic State group and is known for targeting military positions. The other, JAS, has increasingly focused its violence on civilians, often accusing them of collaborating with ISWAP or the Nigerian military. Security analyst Taiwo Adebayo told The Associated Press, "When JAS attacks and kills a lot of people like they did last night in Bama, it’s usually that they suspect the victims of spying for the rival ISWAP or the military."
The attack on Darul Jamal is a stark reminder of the ongoing security challenges in Borno State and the wider region. Despite recent counterinsurgency operations by the Nigerian military, attacks have surged in 2025. Good Governance Africa, a nonprofit organization, tallied approximately 300 attacks resulting in about 500 civilian deaths in the first half of the year alone, as reported by DW. The latest violence raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current security strategies and the wisdom of closing camps for internally displaced persons before villages can be properly secured.
For the survivors of Darul Jamal, the future is uncertain. Many, like resident Kaana Ali, are now contemplating leaving the village once again, despite pleas from Governor Zulum to stay. Ali, who lost close friends in the attack, told reporters, "But the governor is still begging us to stay back as more protection would be provided to secure our community." Others, traumatized by the violence and the loss of loved ones, have already made up their minds to leave for safer areas.
The impact of the assault extends beyond the immediate loss of life and property. The attack has further eroded trust in the government’s ability to protect vulnerable communities and cast a shadow over efforts to resettle displaced populations. Local officials and humanitarian agencies now face the daunting task of providing emergency assistance to survivors while grappling with the broader challenge of restoring security and hope in a region battered by years of violence.
The Darul Jamal massacre also comes amid broader insecurity in Nigeria. On the same night, gunmen in Edo State, southern Nigeria, attacked a convoy of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Chinese workers, killing eight security personnel and kidnapping several workers. Four Chinese nationals were rescued, but one remained missing, according to Reuters and DW. This separate incident underscores the complex and multifaceted security crisis facing Nigeria as it battles not only Boko Haram and its splinter groups but also criminal gangs and kidnappers across the country.
As the dust settles in Darul Jamal, the pain and fear among survivors are palpable. The village, once a symbol of hope for returnees, now stands as a somber reminder of the persistent threat posed by Boko Haram and the urgent need for a comprehensive and effective response to Nigeria’s security challenges. For many residents, the promise of protection and stability remains elusive—a hope battered but not yet extinguished.