The Borno State Governor in Northeast Nigeria, Babagana Umara Zulum, has paid a condolence visit to the Darajamal community in Bama Local Government Area, where 63 residents, including five soldiers, were killed by insurgents on Friday night.
The victims, mostly civilians who had only recently returned to the community after years of displacement, had been resettled in Darajamal for just about two months before the attack.
Governor Zulum, visibly shaken, met with community leaders and bereaved families, expressing deep grief over the tragedy.
“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 5 soldiers lost their lives,” he said.
He described the incident as barbaric and heartbreaking, stressing that his visit was to commiserate with the people and strengthen their resilience. Zulum also called for urgent deployment of the newly trained Forest Guards to complement the military in protecting vulnerable communities.
“The current numerical strength of our security forces is insufficient to cover all areas. We need additional support to secure our people,” the Governor emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Senator representing Borno Central, Kaka Shehu Lawan, under whose constituency Darajamal falls, condemned the killings.
“This attack is a crime against humanity, and we will continue to give legislative support to Governor Zulum’s administration in the ongoing fight to restore lasting peace in the state,” he said.