Suspected Boko Haram fighters unleashed fresh violence on Monday evening in Kopl village, Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, killing at least seven residents and injuring many others.
According to eyewitness reports, the attackers descended on the community around 6 p.m., targeting villagers who had gathered for the final burial rites of a fellow resident. Without warning, they opened fire, resulting in multiple casualties.
Confirming the tragic event, Hon. Modu Mustaph, Chairman of Chibok LGA, expressed concern that the death toll might increase.
“Many of the victims who sustained injuries were immediately evacuated to Mubi General Hospital in Adamawa State for treatment.
“We fear the casualty figure could rise as local volunteers continue search and rescue efforts. A mass burial is being planned for Tuesday,” Mustaph disclosed.
This attack came shortly after SaharaReporters documented another deadly episode along the Gamboru Ngala-Kala Balge road.
There, several travellers lost their lives when their vehicles hit improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by insurgents, leaving many others critically wounded.
Reacting to the worsening violence, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Southern Borno in the National Assembly, urged immediate federal intervention.
“The situation is pathetic and beyond human imagination. Even yesterday, I got a distress call that over ten vigilante members were killed in a community between Hawul and Garkida in Adamawa,” he stated.
He further lamented the continuous bloodshed, saying, “My people are suffering mass casualties without confrontation.
“In just the past month, over a hundred people have been killed in coordinated attacks across Sabon Gari, Izge, Kirawa, Pulka, Damboa, Chibok, Askira Uba, and many more communities.”
Frightened by the unrelenting violence, residents of Kopl and nearby villages have begun fleeing to IDP camps and safer towns.
The spate of attacks underlines the ongoing threat posed by Boko Haram, despite official claims of progress in the fight against insurgency in the North-East.