Suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Monday night attacked Gaya community in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, killing a police inspector and seven civilians.
Chairman of Hong council, Aliyu Sa’ad, confirmed the attack, yesterday.
Sa’ad said the attackers invaded the community at night, set two houses ablaze and killed eight people. He explained that the attackers came on the night of Monday and launched a bloody attack on two houses, burning them and killing one police officer and seven civilians in the process.
He disclosed that the military, police, hunters and other security agencies had been deployed to the area to search for the attackers.
Spokesperson of Adamawa State police command, Suleiman Nguroje, who also confirmed the attack yesterday, said the report received from the area indicated that on Monday night, the bodies of five people, four civilians and a police inspector, were recovered after the attackers left. He added that the command was still awaiting further updates, noting that troops had been deployed alongside other security agencies, including vigilantes and hunters, to hunt for the attackers.
The police spokesperson said the command would provide further details as more information became available, promising to reach out with a detailed briefing should there be any new development concerning the attack.
The latest attack adds to the security challenges confronting Hong council, which has witnessed repeated attacks linked to insurgency in recent months.
The council chairman said security agencies were working to track down those responsible for the latest attack and restore calm to the affected community.
Residents in parts of Adamawa have continued to face security threats from Boko Haram and other armed groups operating around communities bordering the Sambisa Forest. A proposed military barracks at Garaha, near one of the major routes used by insurgents into the Sambisa Forest, is yet to commence operations, according to the council chairman.
Hong is also the hometown of two former Secretaries to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and Boss Mustapha.
