Boko Haram strikes again in Adamawa, destroy houses, mount flags

From 10pm on Friday night until around 3am Saturday, heavily armed terrorists attacked Dabna village in the Yadul/Dugwaba District of Hong Local Government Area in Adamawa State, News360 Nigeria reports.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers arrived with dangerous weapons and explosive devices, destroyed homes and properties, and even raised their own flag, claiming control of the area.

Reliable sources also revealed that Garaha, a bigger community just about three kilometres from Dabna, might have also come under attack if not for the timely intervention of military forces, mobile police officers, and local vigilantes who fought back and stopped the invasion from spreading.

The invasion of Dabna came barely three days after Bangah, a subarb of Garaha close to Sambisa forest of neigbouring Borno State, was attacked.

Seven people were killed and several houses and cars were destroyed in that attack.

A prominent citizen of Dabna, Dr Raymond Chidama, who is the Adamawa State secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, described the development as worrisome.

Chidama, who lives mostly in the state capital, Yola, said about the incessant attacks in Hong LGA: “The attacks on these communities have now become a daily affair, bringing fear and terror into the remnants of people there.”

He said most of the residents had actually fled, with no hope of returning soon, for fear of more attacks.

Hong, an LGA in northern Adamawa, has historically been one of the seven LGAs in Adamawa State that Boko Haram have troubled the most since the insurgency started in the region.

The other LGAs have been Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha, and Gombi.