Date: October 9, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have attacked Bala-Tela village in Adamawa State's Gombi Local Government Area, killing one person and setting a church, a car and other properties on fire, according to local sources cited by SaharaReporters.
The attackers reportedly stormed the village in Guyaku District on Thursday evening, arriving in large numbers on motorcycles and firing as residents fled their homes for safety. Some villagers reportedly escaped into surrounding bushes to avoid being caught in the assault.
Local sources said the attackers torched a church building, a car and other selected properties during the raid. The full extent of the destruction was not immediately clear, while authorities had not provided a comprehensive assessment of the damage at the time of the report.
The latest attack has renewed concerns about the security situation in Guyaku District, an area that has experienced repeated attacks in recent months.
Bala-Tela was previously attacked on April 26, when suspected terrorists killed at least 29 people in one of the deadliest assaults reported in Adamawa State this year. The victims were among residents gathered to watch a local football match when armed attackers arrived on motorcycles and opened fire. The attackers also reportedly set buildings, including a church, ablaze and destroyed motorcycles belonging to people at the gathering.
The April attack was subsequently claimed by Islamic State West Africa Province, according to reports cited by SaharaReporters. However, the circumstances surrounding the claim and the identity of all those responsible were not independently established in the latest report.
The violence in Guyaku District continued in September. On September 7, suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Dzangula, another community in the district, killing 12 people and injuring others. Several houses and shops were reportedly damaged, an EYN church building was burned and a woman was abducted during that attack.
The repeated attacks have left residents increasingly concerned about the safety of rural communities in the area. The latest Bala-Tela assault again forced residents to flee their homes and seek safety in nearby bushes as the attackers moved through the community.
SaharaReporters said attempts to obtain a response from Adamawa State Police Command spokesperson SP Suleiman Nguroje were unsuccessful, as his phone was unavailable when the report was filed.
The latest death brings renewed attention to the continuing threat posed by armed insurgent groups in northeastern Nigeria. Boko Haram and ISWAP have operated across the region for years, while rural communities in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states remain vulnerable to attacks, abductions and destruction of property.
The latest assault in Bala-Tela is separate from the April massacre in the same village. The April attack killed at least 29 people, while the latest attack on Thursday was reported to have killed one person and caused additional property destruction.
The circumstances of Thursday's attack, including the identity of the perpetrators and the full extent of the casualties and property damage, remain subject to further investigation. The attackers are described as suspected Boko Haram terrorists, and their responsibility for the latest assault had not been independently established at the time of publication.