An attack by the terrorist group Boko Haram has left 63 people dead in Darul Jamal, a village in Borno state, northeastern Nigeria. According to local media, the assault took place on Friday night in a village where residents had recently been relocated from a camp for internally displaced persons.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, who visited the scene on Saturday, said he was traumatized by the killings. He told journalists, “We are here to commiserate with the people of Darul Jamal over what happened last night that has claimed the lives of many people. It is very sad. This community was settled a few months ago and they went 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.”
Zulum confirmed, “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 5 soldiers lost their lives.”
He added, “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 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.”
Boko Haram, a terror group based in northeastern Nigeria and also active in Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, is known for its attacks on civilians, security forces, and schools, including mass shootings, bombings, and kidnappings. The insurgency has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions since 2009. Despite gains by the Nigerian military, including the capture of strongholds and the killing of commanders, large parts of Borno remain vulnerable to renewed attacks.
