Islamist Gunmen Kill 12 and Abduct Schoolgirl in Night Raid on Christian Village in Northeast Nigeria

Attackers described as Boko Haram militants stormed Nzangula Kilba, operating for seven hours without security response, looting medical supplies and targeting Christian residents in a region hit by repeated massacres.

By Izhi Bitrus Adamu

ADAMAWA, Nigeria — Islamist militants killed 12 people and abducted a 10‑year‑old schoolgirl during a seven‑hour overnight assault on a Christian farming community in northeast Nigeria, residents told TruthNigeria. The attackers, described locally as Boko Haram fighters, arrived on motorcycles late Sunday, ransacked homes and shops, looted medical dispensaries, and operated until dawn without security intervention — the latest in a string of weekend raids targeting rural Christian villages in Adamawa State.

“We discovered 12 dead bodies gunned down. A girl of about 10 years who just started her secondary school was abducted,” Malam Inuwa Shehu told Truth Nigeria.

The attackers, more than 50 on motorcycles with three riders each, opened fire around 8:45 p.m local time and operated till 4:00 a.m the following day without security intervention, eyewitnesses said. They ransacked EYN church Nzangula Kilba cathedral, looted not less than 10 provision shops and three dispensaries, and made away with a new motorcycle bought for rural evangelism, locals said.

Sustained Pattern of Attack 

The Islamic Jihadist group has a documented pattern of targeting provision stores, chemists, and dispensaries during raids across the Northeast, including Christian communities in Adamawa State, primarily to replenish critical logistics and survival supplies. According to Zagazola, the group raids shops to sustain their enclaves, treat injuries and outbreaks, sustain fighting capability, and disrupt local ecosystems.

A security expert who spoke to Daily Post also linked the looting of medical supplies and foodstuff to terrorists’ efforts to keep their camps running and to cut off rural communities from basic services.

Mass burial 

A mass burial for 10 men and 2 women was conducted on Monday, September 7, 2026, around 1:00 p.m, community leaders said. A child of about 4 years sustained injuries and is receiving treatment. According to Punch, “Two were injured and are presently receiving treatment at Cottage Hospital in Gombi.” 

Statement by the Authorities

In a statement on Tuesday, the Adamawa State Government confirmed the incident. The political leader of Gombi County (LGA) Hon. Markus Ishaya said the attack claimed the lives of 12 people. Reports indicate that several residents were injured during the attack, while the assailants reportedly abducted some of the victims before fleeing the area. The incident has renewed concerns over the security situation in parts of Adamawa State, particularly rural communities facing threats from terrorists and kidnappers.

The Nzangula Kilba attack comes amid a wider wave of violence reported in Adamawa. According to Punch, terrorists killed more than 10 people in the Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State in a separate incident, further underscoring the deteriorating security situation across rural parts of the state.

Help Came Too late 

Residents expressed dismay at the late arrival of troops and the failure of reporters to visit the community after the attacks.

“Soldiers just arrived in the community” 20 hours after the attack, Shehu added. “I can see plenty of soldiers in our community now.”

“I don’t know why journalists have not come to report. They may be scared because we have been having a series of threats.”

Worship Outside, Thousands Displaced 

The pastor of EYN LCC No. 1 Guyaku, Pastor Dauda Mutah, told Truth Nigeria the congregation worship outside, at the church premises since the church was razed in April. 

“It’s for security protocol we’ve been having activities outside,” Mutah said.

Membership dropped from 700 to 200. Most members have fled to Yola and Jos. The state government has not offered to renovate the church.

Thousands have been displaced ahead of harvest. “Only a few have managed to farm this rainy season because of fear of attack in the farms. Yet, we’re forced to leave our farms now,” residents said.

April Massacre: Same Community Hit Again  

This comes four months after gunmen struck Guyaku on April 26, 2026, while youths were playing football. At least 29 people were killed, with houses, places of worship, and nearly 100 motorcycles burnt. The attack was documented by Human Angle in a report on terror on the football pitch. ISWAP later claimed responsibility, according to a TruthNigeria report on the Gombi Massacre.

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri visited to assess damage and promised reinforced security, TruthNigeria reported after the April visit. Residents said one suspect, “Yellow,” was arrested and released a week later. He still moves freely in Guyaku.

Pattern of Attack Sustained 

The pattern of attack in Gombi is sustained. Both the Sunday evening assault in April in Guyaku and the recent Sunday evening attack in Nzangula Kilba followed the same timing and tactics, raising fears of a deliberate campaign against Christian rural communities during weekends.

The pattern mirrors earlier 2026 violence. In January, Islamist terrorists killed 32 in coordinated attacks across Christian communities, Truth Nigeria documented. In April, gunmen killed at least 29 targeting young people on a football pitch, France24 reported. In August, Boko Haram expanded rural killings days after military claimed security gains, and Fulani militias were accused of targeting Christian communities in Northeastern Nigeria, both reported by Truth Nigeria.

“This is How Libya Started” – Expert  

Mr Godwin A. Okoko PhD, Executive Director Bege Foundation, a Jos based peace and conflict resolution expert, says Adamawa is drifting toward state failure seen in Libya.  

“What we are seeing in Nzangula Kilba is the gradual erosion of the state monopoly of violence. When terrorists attack, loot, abduct, and the state responds 24 hours late, you create vacuums. That is exactly how Libya descended – first into pockets of lawlessness, then militia rule, then no-go zones,” Okoko said.  

“If the government does not urgently reassert control and deliver justice, Southern Adamawa risks becoming a territory where non-state actors dictate who farms, who worships, and who lives.”

Silence and Political Pressure  

As at press time, residents lament delayed official statements by the authority and political leaders. There was no immediate coverage by mainstream outlets. An act perceived as “political calculations.” Locals say the silence makes them feel forgotten.

Mr Mark Dogara, a political analyst, told Truth Nigeria that underreporting or delayed reporting is tied to 2027 politics. “There is pressure not to frame these attacks in religious terms because officials fear it will fuel the narrative of Christian persecution,” Dogara said. “But the reality is churches are being burnt and rural Christians are bearing the brunt.”

Residents are calling for urgent military intervention. The back-to-back attacks highlight ISWAP targeting rural Christian communities during planting and harvest, raising fears of worsening food insecurity and displacement.

Izhi Bitrus Adamu is a conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.

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