A fresh wave of violence has hit Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State as suspected Boko Haram fighters launched a deadly attack on Kwapre Village on the evening of Saturday, April 26, 2025, killing 10 local vigilantes and leaving several others critically injured.
This comes barely a week after a previous attack claimed six lives in the same Hong area, underlining the persistent threat insurgents continue to pose in the northeastern region.
According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants arrived in large numbers, heavily armed, and swiftly overpowered the village vigilantes who were attempting to defend the community.
“We lost 10 brave men, and others are fighting for their lives at FMC Hong,” said an elder of the community, his voice heavy with grief. The wounded victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Hong for urgent medical attention.
Former Councillor of Garaha Ward and a Kwapre indigene, Hon. Hyella Anthony, who was at the scene, confirmed the casualties and decried the recurrent attacks. “This is one attack too many. Our people are overwhelmed, and we are tired of burying our sons.”
The District Head of Dugwaba, Mr. Simon Yakubu, expressed deep anguish over the spate of violence, noting that this latest assault marks the fifth attack on communities in Hong LGA within just two weeks. He lamented the devastating impact on local life and agriculture, especially as the rainy season approaches.
“Where do we run to now, with the rainy season at our doorsteps?” Mr. Yakubu asked. He called on the government to urgently intervene, warning that the continued desertion of over 15 villages, previously home to over 6,000 people, could lead to a humanitarian disaster.
“These evil forces are driving us from our homes. Our villages are turning into ghost towns, and our people are scattered, living in fear,” he added.
The attack on Kwapre Village underscores the ongoing struggle against insurgent violence in the northeast, despite repeated military campaigns to eliminate Boko Haram and its affiliates.
Local leaders and residents are now urgently appealing for increased military presence and proactive security measures to protect vulnerable communities, particularly in rural areas where displacement and access to aid are increasingly complicated by the onset of the rainy season.
As of this morning, Sunday, April 27, 2025, authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, and the condition of the injured vigilantes remains uncertain.
