Tragedy has struck Tarfa village in the Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, as suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched a brutal evening raid that claimed the lives of a local pastor and four other residents. The attackers reportedly arrived in the community on motorbikes around 7 p.m. on Thursday, catching the villagers off guard with sporadic gunfire and arson.
The insurgents operated for over an hour, systematically setting houses and shops ablaze. Among those confirmed dead is Evangelist Musa Umoru, a pastor with the Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN). The violence was so intense that it forced the surviving members of the community to abandon their homes and flee into the surrounding bushes for safety.
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State, Rev. John Bakeni, confirmed the heartbreaking incident. He noted that the entire village was virtually leveled by the fire, leaving the displaced residents in a state of shock and mourning. One survivor, who managed to escape the carnage, described the scene as devastating and pleaded with the authorities to act before the insurgents strike again.
Residents of Hawul and neighboring areas are now living in fear, with many calling for an immediate increase in security presence. The survivor emphasized that the community feels completely vulnerable and is desperately in need of government intervention to prevent further loss of life.
When contacted for an official statement, the spokesperson for the Borno State Police Command, Nahum Daso, indicated that he was aware of the reports but requested more time to fully verify the details of the attack. As of now, the displaced villagers remain in hiding, waiting for a sign that it is safe to return to what remains of their homes.
