Catastrophic Attack on Recently Resettled Community
Boko Haram militants killed at least 60 people, including civilians, soldiers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in a brutal overnight assault on Darul Jamal, a town in Nigeria’s Borno State recently repopulated after years of displacement. The attack, which began around 9:00 PM on September 5 and continued until dawn, targeted homes, a military base, and a motor park, with witnesses reporting "house-to-house" executions and the burning of 20 houses and 10 buses. Among the dead were seven soldiers, seven drivers, and six laborers involved in reconstruction efforts, highlighting the vulnerability of communities despite government promises of security.
Humanitarian Crisis and Resettlement Failures
The massacre underscores the perilous conditions facing IDPs forcibly returned to unstable regions. Darul Jamal had been repopulated in August 2025 with families from the now-closed Government Science Secondary School IDP camp in Bama. Residents had warned military authorities of militant gatherings days before the attack, but no preventive action was taken. This tragedy echoes broader patterns: despite official claims of progress, jihadist violence has resurged, with 300 attacks killing 500 civilians in the first half of 2025 alone, per NGO reports.
Military Vulnerabilities and Regional Implications
The assault exposed critical gaps in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency strategy. Militants overwhelmed soldiers stationed at the border-area base, forcing them to flee alongside civilians to Bama town. This failure occurs despite intensified air strikes, such as an August operation that killed 35 jihadists near Cameroon and U.S. weapons deals worth $346 million. Analysts note that the military’s focus on banditry in the northwest and economic crises has diverted resources from the northeast, enabling groups like Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) to exploit security voids.
Government Response and Accountability
Borno Governor Babagana Zulum visited the site to assess damage and console survivors, but police and military officials declined to comment. The attack fuels criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which has prioritized IDP camp closures despite persistent insecurity. Communities now demand urgent investigations into intelligence failures and accountability for officials who ignored warnings.
Broader Context of Persistent Violence
This massacre is part of a devastating pattern in northeastern Nigeria. Since 2009, the conflict has killed 40,000 people and displaced 2 million. Darul Jamal’s tragedy mirrors earlier 2025 atrocities, such as the January bombing of a Bwari school and June attacks in Benue that killed over 100. With NGOs reporting dwindling resources and the UN noting 35,000 civilian deaths to date, the crisis demands international attention beyond military aid, including humanitarian support and pressure for transparent governance.