Jihadist assault leaves 63 dead in Nigerian resettlement town near Cameroon border

MAIDUGURI (Nigeria), Sept 7 — At least 63 people were killed when jihadists stormed Darul Jamal, a resettled town in north-eastern Nigeria near the Cameroon border, Borno state governor Babagana Zulum confirmed yesterday.

The Friday night attack targeted a community recently relocated from a displacement camp and also struck a nearby military base. Among the dead were five soldiers, according to Zulum and a security source.

“It’s very sad, this community was resettled some months ago and they went about their normal business. As of now, we confirm that 63 have lost their lives, both civilians and the army,” Zulum told reporters.

Residents recounted how dozens of fighters arrived on motorbikes around 8:30pm, firing assault rifles and torching homes. “They came shouting, shooting everyone in sight. When we returned at dawn, bodies were everywhere,” said Malam Bukar, who fled with his family.

The Nigerian air force later claimed it had killed 30 “terrorists” during clashes in the area, though civilian militia and aid workers gave differing casualty counts, ranging from 55 to 64. Many of those killed had only recently been moved from a camp in Bama that authorities shut down earlier this year.

The region remains under the influence of Boko Haram commander Ali Ngulde, who a security source said led the assault.

Although overall violence has declined since Boko Haram’s peak insurgency a decade ago, rival group Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) has grown stronger, overrunning military bases and launching increasingly sophisticated attacks. A recent tally by Good Governance Africa recorded 300 jihadist assaults in the first half of 2025, leaving some 500 civilians dead.

Nigeria’s military has struggled to contain both jihadist and banditry violence, while worsening economic conditions under President Bola Tinubu risk further fuelling instability. — AFP