Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have attacked two rural communities in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, killing 14 residents and injuring two others.
The Chairman of Hong Local Government Area, Usman Inuwa, confirmed the incident, which he said occurred last week when the assailants struck the villages of Mubang and Zar during a night raid.
Speaking on Friday, Inuwa explained that the attackers stormed the communities under the cover of darkness, opening fire on residents and setting homes ablaze. According to him, the two people who sustained gunshot injuries are currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital.
“At about 9pm on that day, which I cannot vividly recall, Boko Haram invaded Mubang and Zar villages, which are close to Sambisa forest, they killed 14 people, shot two people and burnt dozens of houses with foodstuffs, ” he said.
Inuwa attributed the repeated attacks on the communities to their proximity to the Sambisa Forest, describing the surrounding area as largely uninhabited and poorly secured.
“These villages are located near Sambisa forest, and there are no other villages in between; it is a vast, empty land, so Boko Haram takes advantage of the ungoverned spaces to attack and kill innocent people,” he stated.
The council chairman noted that local authorities often deploy joint patrols made up of security personnel and vigilante groups to protect the area, adding that previous attempts by the insurgents had been foiled.
He, however, stressed that the latest assault succeeded due to the overwhelming presence of the attackers and renewed calls for stronger federal intervention.
The Hong LG chairman added, “The closeness of these two villages to the Sambisa forest is a big problem, unless the Federal Government deployed airforce to carry out air strikes in the area occupied by the Boko Haram.”
Inuwa said, “The army should be stationed in the area, while airforce carryout air strikes, this will end the continuous attack on the two villages by the Boko Haram.’
Recalling recent incidents, he said Boko Haram had made multiple failed attempts to overrun the villages in December before eventually carrying out the deadly attack.
“Last December alone, Boko Haram made three unsuccessful attempts to attack the two villages, but a combined team of army and vigilantes repelled them; unfortunately, this time they succeeded,” he stated.
Inuwa maintained that sustained military action by the Federal Government remains the only solution to ending the recurring attacks on Mubang and Zar communities in Hong Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Adamawa State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr. Joe Manzo, were unsuccessful. He later sent a text message explaining his unavailability.
” I couldn’t pick your call because I am closely engaged with visitors on assignment, so sorry about that.”
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