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Militants kill 29 in northeast Nigeria village raid
At least 29 people were killed when gunmen stormed a village in Nigeria's Adamawa state, local officials confirmed on Tuesday. The Islamic State (IS) group later claimed responsibility for the assault, though its motives remain unclear.
Attack unfolds on football pitch and homes
Witnesses and authorities reported that militants targeted a football pitch where residents had gathered, opening fire indiscriminately. The attackers then set fire to homes, places of worship, and motorcycles, according to state officials and local residents.
The assault in Guyaku village, located in the Gombi local government area, lasted several hours, leaving the community in shock. Photos shared by Adamawa state governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri showed him arriving at the scene, where he described the violence as an "affront to our humanity."
Community gripped by fear and displacement
The governor's spokesperson, in a Facebook post, noted that the atmosphere in Guyaku remains tense, with residents visibly grieving and fearful of further attacks. Many families have fled their homes, abandoning the village amid heightened insecurity.
Fintiri later posted on X (formerly Twitter), vowing to "intensify security operations immediately to restore peace and ensure every resident feels safe in their home again."
Region plagued by jihadist violence
Adamawa state, which borders Cameroon, has faced repeated attacks by criminal gangs and IS-affiliated groups in recent years. The broader northeast region has been a hotspot for insurgent activity since Boko Haram launched its campaign in 2009.
Earlier this month, Nigerian courts sentenced nearly 400 individuals in mass trials for ties to Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The decade-long conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced over two million people, according to aid organizations.
The violence has also spilled into neighboring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, exacerbating regional instability.
Government under pressure as elections loom
Nigeria's government is facing mounting criticism over its handling of insecurity, particularly ahead of the country's general elections in January. International observers have raised concerns about the escalating crisis in Africa's most populous nation.
In late 2025, the U.S. conducted a series of airstrikes targeting IS-linked militants in northwestern Nigeria, describing the operations as "powerful and deadly."
