Zulum Mourns as 63 Killed in Boko Haram Attack on Borno Community

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has strongly condemned the killing of residents and soldiers in Darajamal community, Bama Local Government Area, following a late-night attack on Friday.

The governor, who visited the grieving community on Saturday, expressed sadness over the tragedy and comforted families of the victims. “We are here to commiserate with the people of Darajamal over what happened last night that has claimed the lives of many people. It is very sad,” Zulum told journalists after the visit.

According to him, the community had only recently resettled and was gradually returning to normal life before Boko Haram struck. “This community was settled a few months ago, and they go about their normal activities, but unfortunately, they experienced a Boko Haram attack last night. Our visit is to commiserate with them and build their resilience,” he said.

The governor confirmed the casualty figures, noting that both civilians and security operatives were among the dead. “At this moment, we have confirmed that 63 people lost their lives, both civilians and military, although the civilian casualties are more. Close to about 60 civilians and five soldiers lost their lives,” he explained.

While acknowledging the limitations of the military in covering vast areas of the state, Zulum called for immediate reinforcement of security in vulnerable communities. “We have to take note that the numerical strength of the military is not enough to cover everywhere. So far so good, two sets of Forest Guards have been trained; therefore, one of the solutions that we need to implement immediately is to deploy the trained Forest Guards to most of the locations that are vulnerable, they will protect the forest and communities,” he stressed.

Senator Kaka Lawan, representing Borno Central where Darajamal falls under, also condemned the killings, describing the incident as “a crime against humanity.” He pledged his support to Governor Zulum, promising legislative backing to strengthen peace-building efforts in the state.