Boko Haram terrorists stormed Tarfa village in the Hawul Local Government Area, killing at least five residents, including a local pastor, and forcing terrified villagers to flee their homes.
According to reports reaching The PUNCH, the assailants launched their attack at about 7:00 pm, riding into the community on motorcycles and firing sporadically for more than an hour. Witnesses told our correspondent that the gunmen operated unchecked and without resistance from security forces during the deadly raid.
Confirming the tragic incident on Friday, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Borno State chapter, Most Rev. John Bakeni, said five people, including the Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) pastor, were killed in the evening assault.
“Truly, there was an attack yesterday evening in a village called Tarfa. I was just informed that five people were killed including the EYN Pastor there. The entire village was burnt down,” Bakeni told PUNCH Online.
The pastor has since been identified locally as Evangelist Musa Umoru, though no official police confirmation of the identity had been released at press time.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of devastation as the gunmen set fire to homes and shops, reducing many structures to ashes before departing.
“It was a devastating attack. They stormed the community en-masse and set houses on fire including shops,” one resident who spoke on condition of anonymity told The PUNCH.
With gunfire and flames ripping through Tarfa, many villagers reportedly abandoned their homes in panic. Survivors who managed to escape appealed for urgent government intervention and increased security presence in the area to prevent further attacks.
“We are under threat. They killed five people including Pastor Evangelist Musa Umoru. As I speak, I have left Tarfa. We need government intervention,” the source added, stressing the continuing insecurity faced by residents.
When contacted for comment, ASP Nahum Daso, spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, said he would inquire and revert with verified information regarding the incident. At the time of publication, no further official statement had been issued.
The latest attack underscores the fragile security situation in northeastern Nigeria, where militant violence, particularly by Boko Haram and its splinter factions, has persisted for years, especially in rural communities that often lack robust protection.
