Boko Haram’s Brutal Third Strike in Six Days Leaves Hong, Adamawa in Ruins: 23 Killed, Scores Injured

By Emmanuel Kwada 

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have launched their third major assault in less than a week on communities in Hong Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State, marking a troubling escalation in violence as 2025 draws to a close.

The most recent raid targeted the villages of Mubang, Zah, Yadul, and Kijing on Monday evening, December 29, 2025. Local sources and the Chairman of Hong LGA, Mr. Inuwa Usman Wa’aganda, confirmed the coordinated incursion by heavily armed insurgents who struck under the cover of darkness.

One of the victims was a decomposing body, charred and mutilated, recovered from the bushes in Mubang village

Residents reported that the attackers set numerous houses ablaze, looted food stocks and valuables, and fired indiscriminately at fleeing civilians. “It was pure mayhem,” one anonymous survivor recounted.

In a telephone interview with THE INSIGHT, a young man identified as David provided further details about the aftermath. He stated that on the day following the incident, 15 bodies were recovered from the surrounding bushes, making the total death toll 23 as of today, with the initial 8 earlier reported.

A farm produce storage was burnt down by Boko Haram after looting it.

“They fled into the bush seeking safety, unaware that the assailants were dispersed throughout the area,” he explained. “The attackers sent only a small group into our town to kill, burn, and loot properties, while the majority remained positioned in the bushes. As our people ran there to hide, they were systematically slaughtered. It was only the next day that we recovered the 15 bodies, and many individuals remain unaccounted for.”

David concluded by noting, “The total death toll cannot be confirmed at this time, as search efforts are ongoing.”

They come when it’s dark, strike hard, and vanish back toward the Sambisa Forest.

At least 23 confirmed deaths across the latest raid, with scores injured, many people missing, and widespread destruction of homes and properties worth millions of naira. Searches in nearby bushes continue, with fears that the toll could rise further.

This incident follows a series of nighttime raids that residents attribute to inadequate security presence. Eyewitnesses and community leaders complain that security forces; including troops from Operation Hadin Kai, police, and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members—primarily patrol during daylight hours and withdraw at night, leaving villages exposed.

Another victim recovered from the bushes in Mubang village, showing signs of brutal violence, including gunshot wounds.

“The attackers know this schedule and exploit it mercilessly,” a local vigilante member told THE INSIGHT. “They come when it’s dark, strike hard, and vanish back toward the Sambisa Forest.”

The latest wave marks the third confirmed Boko Haram assault in Hong LGA within six days, with insurgents targeting areas around Garaha and Mayo Ladde on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, killing at least two Nigerian soldiers and several civilians, and destroying properties.

‎Another local storage was burnt down by Boko Haram after looting it.

This was followed by another strike on December 26 in Mayo Ladde village, where troops repelled parts of the incursion, but civilians still suffered heavy losses.

The most recent raid on December 29-30 hit Mubang, Zah, and surrounding villages, amplifying the carnage, with reports indicating eight people killed and four missing.

The Nigerian army needs a permanent outpost there to block their access. They are looking for a way to sack the villagers, for them to have a free access route to attack the city.

A young man identified as David, speaking amid the devastation, lamented that communities have endured Boko Haram attacks since residents returned from IDP camps in 2016, though never with the current frequency and intensity. He expressed frustration that repeated complaints about insecurity have gone unheeded by authorities.

Hong LGA, located in northern Adamawa and bordering the notorious Sambisa Forest—a key stronghold for Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)—has faced over a decade of sporadic but brutal attacks.

Another victim recovered from the bush.

The region’s porous borders and vast ungoverned spaces enable insurgents to regroup, raid, and retreat with relative impunity.

Displaced survivors are fleeing en masse to safer areas, including Yola (the state capital) and Hong town. Humanitarian sources report hundreds of new internally displaced persons (IDPs) arriving, further straining camps already hosting thousands from years of conflict. Some residents remain behind, citing nowhere else to go.

We are at the mercy of these terrorists.

“We are at the mercy of these terrorists,” one elderly villager said. “If we leave, we lose everything; if we stay, we risk our lives.”

The Adamawa State Police Command has acknowledged the attacks, stating that the situation in affected areas is “being brought under control” with ongoing assessments and deployments.

Troops from Operation Hadin Kai have intensified operations, successfully repelling some incursions in recent days, though nighttime assaults persist.

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s administration has not yet issued a specific statement on the latest Mubang-Zah raid, though previous responses have included calls for federal reinforcements and support for local vigilantes.

This surge underscores a resurgence of Boko Haram activity in Nigeria’s Northeast, despite military claims of degrading the group’s capabilities.

Another victim recovered from the bush.

A retired military officer, known as Samson, highlighted ongoing challenges: limited permanent security outposts, difficult terrain, and the insurgents’ tactical adaptability.

“The Nigerian army needs a permanent outpost there to block their access. They are looking for a way to sack the villagers, for them to have a free access route to attack the city,” he said.

As the year ends, communities in Hong LGA mourn their dead, rebuild shattered lives, and brace for potential further strikes.

The repeated assaults raise urgent demands for 24-hour security presence, improved intelligence, and sustained counter-terrorism measures to safeguard vulnerable civilians.

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