At least 29 people have been killed after armed gunmen attacked Guyaku community in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, in a brutal assault that has further deepened concerns over insecurity in north-eastern Nigeria.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, reportedly targeted young people gathered at a football pitch before the assailants opened fire and set buildings ablaze.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri confirmed the death toll after visiting the scene, saying no fewer than 29 residents were killed in the coordinated assault.
Local witnesses described a chaotic scene, with gunmen storming the area and shooting indiscriminately at people watching or playing football.
Residents said the victims included youths and women, while several others sustained injuries as they attempted to flee the attack.
One resident told reporters that the attackers operated for several hours, leaving behind widespread destruction, including burnt houses, worship centres, and motorcycles.
Footage from the community reportedly showed charred buildings and burnt vehicles, underscoring the scale of the devastation.
Authorities attributed the attack to Boko Haram-linked militants operating in the region, although another armed group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), later claimed responsibility, stating that it targeted Christians and destroyed a church.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the worsening security situation in the north-east, where insurgent violence has persisted for more than a decade.
The insurgency, driven mainly by Boko Haram and ISWAP, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions across Nigeria and neighbouring countries including Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.
Governor Fintiri condemned the attack, promising intensified security operations and vowing that those responsible would not go unpunished.
The latest violence comes amid growing national and international concern over Nigeria’s security challenges ahead of the next general election cycle.
In a separate incident on Sunday, gunmen also attacked communities in another district over 100 kilometres away, with reports linking the violence to farmland disputes in the Lamurde area.
Meanwhile, in central Nigeria, security forces rescued 15 pupils abducted during a separate attack on a school in Kogi State, though efforts are still ongoing to free remaining victims.
Mass kidnappings and armed attacks continue to disrupt education, livelihoods, and daily life across several parts of the country, raising renewed questions about security effectiveness.
