Suspected Boko Haram fighters have killed two people and left eight others hospitalised after launching a late-night assault on Geidam town in Yobe State.
Residents said the attackers struck with precision, targeting a local vigilante base and triggering panic across the community.
The violence claimed the life of a vigilante operative and a civilian, while several others sustained injuries amid the chaos.
According to eyewitness accounts, the insurgents infiltrated the town quietly after abandoning their vehicles in nearby bushes to avoid detection.
A resident who requested anonymity said the assailants advanced on the vigilante post near the Fanfon Nuri mini market.
“They moved in under the cover of darkness and headed straight for the vigilante outpost,” the source explained.
“One of the volunteers was shot on the spot. A civilian in the market area also lost his life during the confusion.”
However, conflicting reports have emerged over how the civilian died. Another community source said the man was not directly shot by the attackers but died in a stampede as residents scrambled for safety.
Medical sources confirmed that eight injured victims were rushed to hospital, where they are receiving treatment for gunshot wounds and trauma-related injuries.
The condition of the victims was not immediately disclosed.
The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Monday in Geidam, the administrative headquarters of Geidam Local Government Area in Yobe State.
The town has witnessed repeated security breaches in recent years due to insurgent activity in the North-East.
Efforts to obtain an official reaction from Operation Hadin Kai were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Calls and messages sent to the military’s public relations unit in Damaturu were not returned.
Security analysts say the renewed attack underscores ongoing concerns about insurgency in Yobe State and the vulnerability of community-based security outfits.
Moreover, residents fear that the latest violence could disrupt commercial activities and heighten tension in the region.
Authorities have yet to issue a formal statement, but locals are urging increased patrols and improved intelligence gathering to prevent further attacks.