New Delhi, Apr 28: At least 29 people were killed when gunmen attacked a community in northeast Nigeria, with victims reportedly targeted while gathered at a football pitch, the The Guardian reported.
The assault took place on Sunday in Adamawa state near the Cameroon border, a region long plagued by violence from militant groups, criminal gangs and communal clashes over land. State governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri confirmed that “no fewer than 29 people” were killed in the attack on Guyaku community in Gombi local government area.
Residents said the attackers opened fire on young people gathered to watch football. “They entered with guns and began shooting randomly,” a local resident told news agency AFP, adding that many of the victims were youths, including women. Buildings, places of worship and motorcycles were also set ablaze during the assault.
The governor’s office said the attackers operated for several hours, killing dozens and destroying property. Visuals from local media showed a burnt church and charred vehicles.
Fintiri blamed the attack on the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has been active in the region for years. However, a rival faction, Islamic State West Africa Province, claimed responsibility, saying it had killed at least 25 people and torched a church and dozens of motorcycles.
Condemning the violence, the governor vowed the attack “will not go unpunished” and said security operations would be intensified to restore peace.
The latest incident comes amid growing scrutiny of Nigeria’s worsening security situation ahead of general elections due next year. Since 2009, the insurgency led by Boko Haram and ISWAP has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions across the northeast, according to the United Nations, with the conflict spilling into neighbouring countries.
In a separate development, authorities said security forces rescued 15 pupils after gunmen abducted 23 children and a school proprietor’s wife during an attack on an orphanage and school in Kogi state. Efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining hostages, officials said, highlighting the persistent threat of kidnappings in the country.
