From Tom Garba,Yola
Suspected Boko Haram insurgents launched a fierce and coordinated attack on the Garaha District in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, overrunning a military camp, killing at least three soldiers and one civilian woman, and setting fire to key infrastructure including a primary school.
The assault occurred around 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, with insurgents storming the community from multiple directions, including the Dabna and Lar axes.
Eyewitness accounts describe sporadic shooting as the attackers advanced, catching the military personnel off guard despite their alertness and initial resistance.
Reverend Isaiah Yeriman, speaking from an eyewitness perspective, recounted how the insurgents overwhelmed the military camp.
“The military men were set and alerted and began to exchange gunshots in an effort to repel them, but unfortunately the entire military camp was invaded and burnt down,” he said.
According to Yeriman, the attackers ambushed the soldiers from the rear via the Lar axis, resulting in the deaths of three military personnel. A civilian woman was tragically killed by a stray bullet while attempting to flee the violence.
The insurgents reportedly looted weapons from the overrun camp, including an armoured vehicle, before torching remaining structures.
“As I’m talking to you, no structure is left at the military base except the Living Faith Church,” Yeriman noted. He praised the soldiers’ bravery, highlighting that they lost everything—including food, clothing, and personal belongings—and appealed to Nigerians to pray for the troops.
Another anonymous eyewitness suggested possible internal betrayal, claiming the military had initially repelled the attackers with vigour until a coordinated ambush from the rear turned the tide.
“To me, it was a coordinated attack that the military needs to conduct a proper investigation,” the source said, urging the government to urgently track communications records from major telecom providers (MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile) within 48 hours to identify potential informants.
The fierce gun battle lasted approximately one hour and 48 minutes into Sunday morning, leaving the community and broader Huba land in deep mourning. Residents described the incident as part of ongoing, unrelenting attacks in the Garaha District.
The Paramount Ruler of the Huba ancestral throne, Tol Barr Alheri Bulus PhD, confirmed the development and promised to provide further details.
Efforts to obtain an official statement from the military were unsuccessful, as the relevant information officer’s contact could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
This latest incident underscores the persistent security challenges in Adamawa State, where communities continue to face threats from insurgent groups despite ongoing military operations in the northeast. Authorities have yet to comment on casualties, recoveries, or follow-up actions.
