A recent Boko Haram attack in the northeastern Nigerian town of Darul Jamal has left at least 63 people dead, with local sources suggesting the toll could be closer to 90. The brutal raid, which took place on September 5 near the Cameroon border, has reignited fears about the fragile security situation in Nigeria’s rural northeast, where insurgents continue to hold sway despite government efforts.
Umar Bulama, a 34-year-old firewood seller, survived the horrific night by lying motionless among the corpses and pressing his face “into the blood-soaked sand” to avoid detection. Bulama’s survival story underscores the brutal reality faced by many civilians trapped in Boko Haram’s violent campaigns.
Darul Jamal had been mostly abandoned for nearly a decade following a previous Boko Haram assault. Earlier this year, many residents, including Bulama and others displaced by ongoing conflict, had begun returning home as the government accelerated efforts to close displaced persons camps.
However, the recent Boko Haram attack shattered hopes of lasting peace. The insurgents launched a night raid, torching homes and killing indiscriminately, reminding residents and officials alike that large areas of northeastern Nigeria remain outside effective government control.
Boko Haram Attack Displaces Returnees in Darul Jamal
Aisha Umar, 70, who had hoped her return to Darul Jamal would be her final move, witnessed the horrifying abduction of her two sons during the attack. Now staying with relatives in Maiduguri, Borno State’s capital and the birthplace of Boko Haram’s insurgency, Umar expressed feelings of deep betrayal.
“They told us it was safe to return. Safe? Look at the graves,” she lamented.
Although violence has decreased since its peak between 2013 and 2015, Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), remain formidable threats. Both groups continue to carry out attacks across Nigeria’s northeastern region.
The first half of this year witnessed a resurgence of violence, especially from ISWAP. The group reportedly overran at least 17 military bases, highlighting ongoing challenges to Nigeria’s security forces. This resurgence has caused fear and instability among civilians trying to rebuild their lives after years of displacement.
Eyewitness Ali Mustapha described the night of the attack: “The sky was red with flames. Bullets were flying, children were crying. I grabbed my daughter’s hand and ran through the smoke.” Tragically, his daughter did not survive. “I buried her with my own hands,” Mustapha said, “That is the last gift I could give her.”
In the wake of the attack, Darul Jamal once again became a ghost town. Many survivors fled into the bush to escape further violence. Official responses have been cautious, with Nigerian authorities often reluctant to fully disclose the scale of security failures.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum visited Darul Jamal the day after the attack and confirmed that at least 63 people had been killed. However, local pro-government militia leader Mommodu Isa claimed they had counted 85 bodies and warned that the true number might be higher as many residents were still missing.
Aid workers who visited the town, including Habiba Yusuf of Mon Club International and nurse Maryam Mamman Nur in Banki, offered similarly grim estimates of casualties and destruction.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has maintained the official death toll at 63 but continues to assess the situation as more information emerges.
The massacre threatens to unravel fragile efforts to resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region. The Nigerian government has been closing displacement camps and encouraging returns to home communities, but critics argue that many areas are still not safe for resettlement.
The push to close camps has coincided with a reduction in the presence of international NGOs, increasing pressure on the government to manage these complex resettlement programs on its own.
Critics warn that the haste in resettlement, combined with incomplete government control over rural areas, leaves returnees vulnerable to renewed insurgent attacks like the one in Darul Jamal.
This recent Boko Haram attack serves as a grim reminder that the northeastern region of Nigeria remains volatile and dangerous for civilians. Despite efforts by security forces and the government, Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to exploit gaps in control to launch devastating raids.
For peace and security to take hold, many experts argue that:
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The Nigerian government must increase military presence and intelligence in vulnerable areas
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Better coordination with local militias and communities is essential
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Humanitarian agencies need to work closely with authorities to ensure safe and sustainable resettlement
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Security infrastructure, including checkpoints and early warning systems, must be strengthened to prevent surprise attacks
As residents like Umar and Bulama struggle to cope with loss and displacement, the hope remains that renewed focus on security and community rebuilding can stem the tide of violence.
Source- EWN
