By Hassan Umar Shallpella
Suspected Boko Haram insurgents killed six people, including a police officer, during a raid on the Gaya-Dlang community near Fa’agaya in Hong Local Government Area on Monday evening.
The attack, which occurred around 5:00 PM, left several homes burned and foodstuffs looted. This marks the second major assault in the area within a month, following a July 27 raid on the Zah community in Yadul District that claimed four lives, including a forest guard, and resulted in a brief abduction.
Confirming the casualties, the Executive Chairman of Hong Local Government Area, Hon. Dr. Aliyu Saad Yerima, stated that seven civilians and one police officer were hit, resulting in six fatalities. The officer’s body has been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre in Hong. Several residents sustained minor injuries while fleeing the attack.
Dr. Yerima confirmed that four women briefly abducted during the raid managed to escape and have returned safely. He added that the military has since stabilized the area.
However, the Council Chairman raised alarm over the agrarian impact of the persistent violence, noting that fear has forced approximately 80 percent of local farmers—as well as visiting farmers from neighboring Mubi and Gombe—to abandon their fields during peak rainy season.
“Most of our farms are in that axis, but farming activities have completely halted,” Dr. Yerima said, warning that the disruption threatens regional food security.
Dr. Yerima assured residents that the local government will continue supporting military operations, local vigilantes, and hunter groups. He commended the Governor Ahmadu Fintiri-led administration for its security efforts and urged community members to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security personnel.
