Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have again attacked a community in Adamawa State, killing one person and setting a church, a car and other properties ablaze in a fresh assault that has heightened fears among residents of the troubled area.
The attackers reportedly stormed Bala-Tela village in Guyaku District of Gombi Local Government Area on Thursday evening, arriving in large numbers on motorcycles and firing sporadically as terrified residents fled for safety.
Local sources told SaharaReporters that the assailants torched a church building, a car and other selected properties during the invasion.
Some residents reportedly escaped into surrounding bushes to avoid being caught in the attack, while the extent of the destruction remained unclear at the time of filing this report.
The latest assault has renewed concerns over persistent attacks on rural communities in Gombi LGA, particularly Guyaku District, which has suffered repeated deadly raids by suspected insurgents in recent months.
On April 26, 2026, suspected terrorists attacked Bala-Tela village while residents were gathered to watch a local football match, killing at least 29 people, according to reports and confirmation by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
Witnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles and opened fire on players and spectators, turning what was supposed to be a peaceful community sporting event into a massacre.
The assailants reportedly operated for several hours, shooting residents and setting buildings, including a church, ablaze. Dozens of motorcycles belonging to spectators and others at the football gathering were also reportedly destroyed.
The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) subsequently claimed responsibility for the April attack, according to media reports.
Governor Fintiri visited the affected community following the massacre and condemned the killings, describing the incident as tragic and unacceptable while assuring residents that the government would work with security agencies to prevent further attacks.
However, the killings did not mark the end of the bloodshed in Guyaku District.
On September 7, 2026, suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Dzangula, also in Guyaku District, killing 12 people and injuring others.
The attack also reportedly left several houses and shops damaged, while an EYN church building was burnt and a woman abducted.
The September assault, which came months after the football-match massacre in Bala-Tela, underscored the continuing vulnerability of communities in the district to deadly attacks.
The latest attack on Bala-Tela has therefore deepened fears that residents of the area remain exposed to recurring violence despite previous assurances of improved security.
The repeated use of motorcycles by the attackers, their reported movement in large numbers and the destruction of places of worship and other property have added to concerns among residents about the ability of the terrorists to strike isolated communities.
Residents who fled into nearby bushes during Thursday’s attack were reportedly forced to seek safety away from their homes as the assailants carried out the raid.
Efforts to reach the state police command’s spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, for comment on the reported attack were unsuccessful, as his phone was unavailable when this report was filed.