Boko Haram Kills Over 60 in Darul Jamal, Borno State | Nigerian Insurgency Update

More than 60 people lost their lives in a violent overnight raid carried out by Boko Haram in Darul Jamal, a village located in Nigeria’s north-eastern Borno State, according to local authorities. The assault also resulted in the deaths of at least five soldiers stationed at a nearby military base along the Nigeria-Cameroon border.

The Nigerian Air Force reported that it responded to the attack with targeted airstrikes, killing 30 militants after receiving reports of the incursion. Darul Jamal had recently been resettled by residents who returned following years of displacement caused by ongoing insurgency in the region.

The attack highlights a recent increase in extremist activity in north-eastern Nigeria. Both Boko Haram and the local branch of the Islamic State group have intensified assaults on communities and security forces in the area.

Reports indicate that the militants destroyed more than 20 homes and 10 buses. Additionally, 13 workers involved in reconstruction efforts, including drivers and laborers, were killed during the raid, according to Reuters.

Governor Babagana Zulum visited Darul Jamal on Saturday, expressing sorrow over the attack. “It is heartbreaking. This community had just been resettled, and people were trying to resume normal life,” he told AFP. The governor also stressed that the current strength of the Nigerian military is insufficient to fully address the ongoing threat. A newly formed security unit, the Forest Guards, is expected to support efforts to restore stability in the area.

Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame explained that surveillance showed the militants fleeing northwards into nearby bushlands. “In a series of precise strikes, the fleeing attackers were effectively engaged, resulting in the elimination of over 30 insurgents,” he said.

Military operations in north-eastern Nigeria have been intensified this year due to recurring targeted assaults on army formations. Earlier in April, Governor Zulum warned of a resurgence in Boko Haram activity after militants staged several attacks and temporarily seized control of parts of Borno State.

Borno State has been a central battleground for Boko Haram’s 15-year insurgency, which has displaced over two million people and claimed more than 40,000 lives. At its peak in 2015, the group controlled large areas of the state before being pushed back by military operations. The challenge of combating insurgents has grown since Niger withdrew its troops from a regional force designed to tackle the group.

Boko Haram gained global attention in April 2014 when it kidnapped more than 270 schoolgirls from Chibok, another town in Borno State, sparking international outrage and ongoing humanitarian concern.

This latest raid serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by extremist groups in north-eastern Nigeria, as communities attempt to rebuild after years of conflict.