29 people killed as gunmen invade communities in Adamawa during football match, Fintiri visits scene

No fewer than 29 people have been confirmed killed following a brutal attack by suspected gunmen on Guyaku and Telabala communities in Gombi Local Government Area of ​​Adamawa State, plunging rural settlements into mourning and renewing fear over worsening insecurity in the region.

The attack, which occurred on Sunday around 5pm, reportedly occurred while residents were watching a football match organized on the field of an elementary school, turning a moment of leisure into a massacre as the attackers stormed the area and opened fire indiscriminately.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived suddenly and began shooting sporadically, forcing residents, including women and children, to flee in different directions for safety as chaos engulfed communities.

A Guyaku resident, Musa Guyaku, who narrowly escaped, described the incident as terrifying, saying the gunmen struck when the community was least prepared.

“Last night, young people organized a football match between two communities. Suddenly, gunmen invaded our community and started shooting sporadically. They killed two people sitting in a hut and set fire to the hut,” he said, struggling to contain his emotions.

He added that it was difficult to immediately confirm the full extent of casualties as many residents were still missing following the attack.

Community sources said at least 29 people were later confirmed dead, while many others suffered varying degrees of injuries. Houses, motorcycles and a church were also reportedly razed to the ground in the attack.

The incident threw Guyaku, Telabala and nearby settlements into panic, with many residents fleeing their homes fearing further attacks.

The latest violence comes barely a week after a similar deadly attack in Mayo Ladde community, Hong Local Government Area, raising concerns over a possible resurgence of coordinated attacks in Adamawa Northern Senatorial District.

Meanwhile, Governor Umaru Fintiri, who has been on hiatus from official engagements, visited affected communities on Monday to assess the level of destruction and commiserate with the victims and their families.

Speaking during the visit, Governor Umaru Fintiri described the attack as “heartbreaking and unacceptable”, stressing that preliminary intelligence linked the incident to suspected elements of Boko Haram and other criminal groups operating in the area.

He assured residents that the government, in collaboration with security agencies, was intensifying efforts to restore peace and prevent further attacks.

“We are here to assess the situation and sympathize with our people who have been affected by this unfortunate incident. It is sad that this happens again shortly after a similar attack in Hong,” the governor said.

“We will continue to do our best because they are our people. We will stand by them and ensure that the government works with the army and other security agencies to ensure that they are well protected,” he added.

During the visit, Fintiri toured devastated areas where burnt houses, wrecked motorcycles and worship centers were spotted, while displaced residents were seen evacuating their belongings amid tears and confusion.

Furthermore, the traditional ruler of Gombi Chiefdom, His Majesty Aggrey Bechour-Ali, lamented the recurring attacks in the area, revealing that security agencies had earlier issued warnings of possible threats, which led to the suspension of Sallah celebrations planned in the locality.

However, he expressed concern that the attackers appeared to have taken advantage of the football rally to launch the assault.

“There are informants among us who could also be sons of the soil. The attackers used the football match to strike,” the monarch said.

Security analysts have warned that repeated attacks on rural communities in Adamawa state underline growing vulnerabilities in northeast Nigeria, particularly in areas with limited security presence and difficult terrain.

At the time of writing, security forces were reportedly deploying additional personnel to the affected communities, while surveillance operations were underway to track down the attackers.

The latest massacre adds to growing concerns over persistent rural insecurity in the state, with residents calling for a sustained military presence, intelligence-led operations and better early warning systems to prevent further bloodshed.

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