Villagers Flee Homes, Sleep in Bushes Overnight as Boko Haram Militants Roam Free in Adamawa Community ‎

By Emmanuel Kwada

Fresh Boko Haram attacks in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State have forced entire communities to flee their homes, with residents spending nights in nearby bushes as heavily armed militants roamed villages unchallenged, looting food, stealing motorcycles, and burning down properties they could not carry away.

Residents of the Garaha (Graha) axis, which comprises over five villages with an estimated population of more than 5,000 people, say fear has become a constant companion following repeated incursions by suspected Boko Haram fighters believed to be operating from the Sambisa Forest corridor.

A villager, Mr. Peter, who spoke to THE INSIGHT, said more than 40 insurgents riding motorcycles stormed the area in last night-time raid, moving freely from house to house in search of victims.

File photo: Image showing boko haram terrorist in Adamawa

“They loot food, steal every motorcycle they see in the villages, and burn down anything valuable they cannot carry,” he said.
“We slept in the bush with our children because Boko Haram stormed our villages on over 40 motorbikes. They kept roaming, searching houses for who to kill until morning.”

According to residents, the attackers operated for hours without resistance, underscoring what they described as a total absence of security presence in the area.

“There is no security personnel in all these villages,” Peter added. “Only local vigilantes are here, and they have no weapons to face Boko Haram, who came with sophisticated arms. We have nowhere to run to. We have lived here all our lives.”

Residents said the situation has been worsened by the destruction of the only telecommunications mast serving the communities, allegedly vandalised by insurgents during an earlier attack.

We slept in the bush with our children because Boko Haram stormed our villages on over 40 motorbikes. They kept roaming, searching houses for who to kill until morning.

“Before, we could alert one another when we saw them coming,” the villager explained. “But since they destroyed the mast, there is no network. They now come unexpectedly, and we are completely exposed.”

The latest incursion is part of a broader wave of Boko Haram attacks that hit Hong LGA during the Christmas and New Year period. In late December 2025, suspected insurgents attacked several villages including Mubang, Zah, Kijing, and parts of Garaha, killing at least 23 people according to local accounts, while injuring others and setting homes and food storage facilities ablaze.

There is no security personnel in all these villages

Earlier attacks on Christmas Day in Garaha District and Mayo Ladde reportedly claimed the lives of both civilians and security personnel, further heightening fear among residents.

Community members said the attackers often arrive in large numbers, targeting food supplies, livestock, motorcycles, and valuables, leaving behind scorched homes and displaced families.

Hong LGA borders Borno State’s Sambisa Forest, a long-established hideout for Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Security analysts note that the proximity to Sambisa, combined with vast ungoverned spaces and limited troop presence, has made the area particularly vulnerable to repeated attacks.

Local leaders, including the Chairman of Hong Local Government Area, have repeatedly appealed to the state and federal governments for sustained military deployment, including ground troops and air surveillance, to stem the tide of violence.

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

Residents insist that occasional patrols are insufficient, arguing that the insurgents quickly return once troops withdraw.

The repeated attacks have triggered temporary displacement, with families abandoning their homes at night to hide in bushes, often without food, water, or shelter. Farmers say they are increasingly afraid to tend their fields, raising concerns about food shortages and deepening poverty in the agrarian communities.

Religious leaders also warn that the psychological toll on children and the elderly is severe, as communities live under constant threat of sudden violence.

Villagers are calling on the government to urgently deploy permanent security posts, restore telecommunication services, and strengthen intelligence gathering to provide early warning of attacks.

We are tired of running. We just want to live in peace in our own homes.

Security experts argue that while military operations have weakened insurgent groups in some areas of the North-East, porous borders, inadequate rural policing, and weak infrastructure continue to allow militants to strike vulnerable communities with deadly ease.

As residents cautiously return to their homes during daylight hours, fear remains palpable. For many in Garaha and neighbouring villages, the plea is no longer just for military action, but for a sustained presence that guarantees safety, restores confidence, and allows them to live without fleeing into the bushes at night.

“We are tired of running,” one resident said quietly. “We just want to live in peace in our own homes.”

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