Residents flee as Boko Haram intensifies attacks on Adamawa villages

Five villages—Kwapre, Dabna, Garha, Lar and Za—in Hong LGA of Adamawa State have been largely deserted after brutal attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, forcing residents to flee for safety. On April 26, Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly assault on Kwapre village, killing 12 hunters and members of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in […]

Five villages—Kwapre, Dabna, Garha, Lar and Za—in Hong LGA of Adamawa State have been largely deserted after brutal attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, forcing residents to flee for safety.

On April 26, Boko Haram insurgents launched a deadly assault on Kwapre village, killing 12 hunters and members of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in an ambush.

Kwapre, which shares border with the Sambisa Forest—a notorious Boko Haram hideout—has long been vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

The slain civilian JTF members were from Hawul LGA in Borno State, while the hunters were drawn from various LGAs within Adamawa State.

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They had been collaborating with security agencies to counter insurgency in the region but were overwhelmed by insurgents wielding superior firepower.

Daily Trust reports that this marks the third attack on Kwapre village in 2025. On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at about 7:30pm, a group of heavily armed Boko Haram insurgents launched an overnight attack on Kwapre and surrounding villages in Yadul District, Hong LGA.

During the assault, the insurgents set ablaze houses, places of worship, schools, and properties valued at millions of naira. Again, on April 15, 2025, Boko Haram militants struck Banga and Larh communities, also in Hong LGA, killing six people and leaving one young boy missing in the aftermath of the attack.

Since 2024, the community has suffered repeated assaults, resulting in numerous deaths, abductions and widespread destruction. Notably, over 40 residents were abducted by insurgents over a year ago and they have remained missing.

‘How the attacks happened’

Mr Simon Cletus Dabna, Commander of the Hunters Association in Adamawa State, recounted the events of the fateful Saturday afternoon. “We received intelligence that Boko Haram insurgents were migrating from Borno to Adamawa. Acting on this information, we evacuated the village of Kwapre and set up an ambush in anticipation of a clash. Unfortunately, the insurgents avoided our ambush site,” he said.

Dabna explained that he had been collaborating with hunters from Hawul in Borno State, who engaged the insurgents in fierce combat around 6:30 to 7:00pm. Fearing ambushes in the darkness, Dabna and his team waited until early morning to advance to Kwapre, where they discovered the bodies of approximately 10 hunters and transported them to Garha village.

He described how the night was filled with gunfire and cries of distress during the skirmish. Dabna noted that it was difficult to confirm Boko Haram casualties, as the insurgents typically retrieved their dead to conceal their losses.

Dabna said the insurgents appeared to resurface with renewed strength and better weaponry.

“Some individuals may be supplying them with sophisticated arms,” he said. He lamented that local hunters lack the necessary arsenal to effectively counter the insurgents, often allowing Boko Haram to succeed in their operations.

Dabna appealed to the government to provide them with modern weapons and sufficient ammunition. While acknowledging that they lack formal military training, Dabna emphasised the hunters’ wisdom, local knowledge, and determination to fight. However, he said they would gladly welcome professional training if provided.

 

Increasing number of insurgents and deserted villages

Dabna highlighted that their motivation stems from a deep connection to their ancestral lands. “These are our homes. The insurgents force our people to flee, leaving behind empty villages.

“We are driven by the hope that one day, we will reclaim and protect our communities,” Dabna said.

He expressed concern about the growing strength of Boko Haram, noting that whereas they previously attacked in groups of around 30, they now arrive in droves of over a hundred. “This surge demands more support and manpower. It’s unrealistic to expect a small group of hunters to effectively counter such overwhelming numbers,” he said.

He called on the government to provide not only weaponry but also financial support, stressing that fighting insurgency demands great sacrifice, and many hunters worry about the welfare of their families should they die.

“Four to five villages, including Za, Dabna, Lar, and Kwapre, have been largely abandoned. Residents flee by 3pm daily, seeking safety elsewhere. Garha village, once thriving, is now nearly deserted, with only a few residents and security personnel left,” Dabna added.

A Kwapre resident, Jackson, who wished to remain anonymous, shared his own experience fighting Boko Haram since the insurgency began.

On the April 26th attack, Jackson explained that about 32 hunters from Hawul had arrived in Kwapre and were stationed there, while local hunters positioned themselves at Garha.

After the villagers evacuated, only the Hawul hunters remained. When the insurgents arrived, the Hawul hunters called for backup, and local hunters responded. They also informed the military, proposing a coordinated operation, but the military declined, refusing to move beyond Dabna.

In the end, 12 hunters were killed—10 bodies were found on Saturday, with two more discovered later. The skirmish lasted approximately an hour and a half, he added.

 

17 killed in 2 weeks – LG boss

The chairman of Hong LGA, Usman Wa’anganda, has confirmed that 17 people were killed in his council in the last two weeks.

Speaking with journalists on Monday in Yola on the latest assault on Kwapre, Wa’anganda said, “The armed insurgents stormed the border community on motorcycles, overpowering local defenders with superior firepower.”

He confirmed that the deadly attack left many houses burnt and deepened fears among residents already living under the shadow of repeated assaults.

The chairman said, “You know Kwapre is one of the villages that share a border with Sambisa Forest, so Boko Haram frequently enters and attacks.”

“We only have hunters there. There are no soldiers or any security presence. Even when we call them, they don’t come.”

He appreciated the efforts of the Adamawa State Government to empower local vigilantes; however, he pointed out that more needed to be done to address the situation.

“The security situation here is disappointing. I advise the government to send a battalion here so that our people can return to their homes and farms,” he appealed.

Kwapre is the hometown of the immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

 

Security reinforcements deployed

Following the attacks, the Adamawa State Police Command deployed additional security personnel to Kwapre to bolster security and prevent further violence.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Morris, urged officers to exhibit professionalism and responsiveness. He emphasised intelligence-led policing and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to securing lives and property.

Police spokesperson SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje confirmed that tactical teams are working closely with the military to restore peace across border communities and apprehend individuals found with illegal firearms.

“The Adamawa State Police Command is intensifying collaboration with sister security agencies to tighten security across volatile areas,” Nguroje said.