At least 29 people have been killed after armed men attacked Guyaku and Telabala communities in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, in a late afternoon assault that left residents in panic and destruction in its wake.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the area around 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, while youths were gathered at a local primary school field for a football match between neighbouring communities. What started as a peaceful sporting event quickly turned into chaos as gunmen opened fire, sending people running in all directions.
A resident, Musa Guyaku, said the attackers shot indiscriminately and set structures ablaze during the invasion. According to him, at least two people were killed on the spot while others fled into nearby bushes for safety. He added that the full scale of casualties was difficult to immediately confirm due to the confusion that followed the attack.
The incident reportedly left homes destroyed and parts of the community in ruins, with motorcycles and a church building among those burnt.
Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, who cut short official engagements, visited the affected communities on Monday. Visibly shaken by the level of destruction, he described the attack as deeply painful and confirmed that about 29 people lost their lives.
He said the government was working closely with security agencies to stabilise the area and prevent further attacks, assuring residents that efforts were underway to strengthen protection in vulnerable communities.
Traditional leaders in the area also expressed concern over repeated attacks in the region. The traditional ruler of Gombi Chiefdom, Agrey Bechour-Ali, noted that security warnings had earlier been issued advising against gatherings, including celebrations, due to intelligence reports. He suggested that the attackers may have exploited the football gathering to carry out the assault.
Following the attack, residents were seen fleeing with their belongings, while emergency teams and security operatives moved into the area to assess the damage.
The latest violence adds to a series of recent attacks in parts of Adamawa, raising fresh concerns over rural security and the safety of communities in the northern part of the state.
