Tragedy struck Adamawa State on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, as suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched deadly attacks on two communities in Hong Local Government Area, killing at least seven people and destroying properties, including a police vehicle.
The coordinated assaults, which took place in Banga and Larh villages, left residents in shock and mourning. According to local sources, the insurgents arrived heavily armed and used both firearms and explosive devices during the attacks.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers invaded Banga community first, firing sporadically and throwing bombs. A local vigilante member was killed instantly by an explosive device. Two other male residents were shot dead during the chaos, while a woman lost her life after falling while attempting to escape the violence.
The insurgents then moved to Larh, a nearby community, where they continued their rampage. Two more people were confirmed dead in Larh, bringing the total number of confirmed fatalities to seven.
A young boy remains missing following the attack. His mobile phone was reportedly still ringing when friends and family tried to reach him, but he has not responded, raising fears that he may be among the victims or abducted.
In a significant escalation of the violence, the insurgents also targeted a police patrol van stationed in Banga. The vehicle, reportedly deployed from Garaha Police Division, was destroyed in a bomb explosion set off by the attackers.
“They came with bombs and guns. We just heard a loud blast, and the police van went up in flames. We had to run into the bush for our lives.”
The Chairman of Hong Local Government Area, Usman Wa’aganda, confirmed the attack and the casualties in a phone interview on Wednesday. He stated that security agencies had been notified and that efforts were ongoing to restore calm in the affected areas.
“Seven people have been confirmed dead following the attack on Banga and Larh. We are working with security forces to ensure the protection of other nearby communities and prevent further attacks,” Wa’aganda said.
He also called for urgent intervention by the federal government, noting that the security situation in the state, particularly in rural areas, continues to be fragile.
Since the attack, residents of Banga and Larh have fled their homes, with many seeking refuge in nearby towns or hiding in surrounding forests. The attacks have renewed fears among rural dwellers, especially in border communities prone to insurgent raids.
Community leaders have appealed for humanitarian assistance, saying displaced families are in need of food, water, and temporary shelter.
“People ran with nothing but the clothes on their backs. We need help. Many are sleeping outside in fear,” said a local elder from Banga.
Boko Haram, a jihadist group designated as a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government and international bodies including the United Nations, has been active in northeast Nigeria for over a decade. While its strongholds are primarily in Borno and Yobe States, parts of Adamawa State—especially in local government areas like Madagali, Michika, and now Hong—have experienced repeated attacks over the years.
The group, along with its breakaway faction ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province), continues to pose a major threat to civilians, security personnel, and public infrastructure in the region.
Adamawa, one of the North-Eastern states in Nigeria, had in recent years enjoyed relative calm compared to neighbouring Borno. However, this recent attack signals a worrying resurgence of militant activity in the state.
Many have also called for better intelligence sharing and the deployment of advanced surveillance tools, such as drones, to detect insurgent movement before attacks occur.
Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the Adamawa attacks, but residents say military patrols were seen in the area as of Wednesday morning.
The state government is expected to send relief materials to affected families, and discussions are ongoing about relocating vulnerable residents to more secure areas until the situation stabilizes.
Meanwhile, the search continues for the missing boy, whose fate remains unknown.
Founded in 2002, Boko Haram became widely known in 2009 after launching an armed insurgency aimed at creating an Islamic state in northern Nigeria. The group is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of over 2 million people.
Its name, loosely translated, means “Western education is forbidden.” The group gained global notoriety in 2014 for the abduction of over 270 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State — a tragedy that drew international condemnation and the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.
Despite military offensives by the Nigerian Army and support from neighbouring countries, Boko Haram remains a dangerous force in parts of Nigeria’s North-East and the Lake Chad region.
