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The raid occurred on Friday night in the border community, which also hosts a military base. Reports indicate that at least five soldiers were among the victims.
In response, the Nigerian Air Force launched counterstrikes after receiving intelligence about the attack, announcing that more than 30 insurgents were neutralised as they attempted to retreat into nearby forests.
Darul Jamal, where displaced residents had only recently resettled, suffered extensive damage. More than 20 houses and 10 buses were set ablaze, while at least 13 workers, including drivers and labourers involved in reconstruction efforts, were killed, Reuters reported.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, who visited the scene on Saturday, described the attack as heartbreaking. “It’s very sad. This community was resettled some months ago and they were going about their normal business,” he said, stressing that the Nigerian army lacks the numbers to effectively manage the crisis. He revealed that a newly formed security outfit, the Forest Guards, will soon reinforce security in the conflict-hit region.
Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame confirmed that surveillance tracked militants fleeing the village. “In three precise and successive strikes, the terrorists were decisively engaged, resulting in the elimination of over 30 insurgents,” he said.
Borno has remained the epicentre of Boko Haram’s 15-year insurgency, which has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced over two million. Although the group once controlled vast parts of the state in 2015, it was gradually pushed back by military operations. However, recent months have seen a resurgence in attacks, with rival factions including the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) intensifying operations.
Governor Zulum had earlier cautioned in April that Boko Haram appeared to be regrouping, as fighters launched renewed offensives and seized some areas. The fight against insurgency has grown tougher following the withdrawal of Niger’s troops from the regional coalition formed to combat the extremists.
Boko Haram rose to global infamy in 2014 after abducting more than 270 schoolgirls from Chibok, also in Borno State, sparking international outrage.
