By Our Reporter
The heart of Borno was pierced again on Friday night when Boko Haram insurgents stormed Darajamal in Bama Local Government Area, killing 63 people and abducting several others. Among the dead were five soldiers and nearly 60 civilians — many of them displaced persons who had only recently begun rebuilding their lives after years of hardship.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, visibly shaken, arrived in Darajamal on Saturday to stand with the grieving community. He walked among the mourners, listened to their cries, and offered words of consolation that carried both sorrow and resolve.
“This is painful beyond words. Just months ago, this community was resettled. Families were trying to live again, children were playing again, and people were finding hope. But tragedy struck, and we are here to share in your grief,” the governor said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Zulum condemned the killings as cruel and senseless, reminding the people that resilience is the only path forward. He admitted that the military, though dedicated, does not have the numbers to secure every vulnerable settlement. He therefore called for the urgent deployment of trained Forest Guards to complement security forces and help shield fragile communities from further bloodshed.
“We cannot allow this to continue. The military cannot be everywhere, but together with the Forest Guards, we can give our people some measure of protection,” he said.
Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan of Borno Central also denounced the massacre, describing it as a crime against humanity. He promised to support all measures aimed at restoring peace and security to the state.
Yet, beyond the statistics and political pledges, the sorrow of Darajamal is raw and undeniable. Lives were snatched away overnight. Families who had only just begun to hope are now plunged back into mourning, unsure if those abducted will ever return. The tragedy is a haunting reminder of the fragility of peace in Borno, and of the resilience required to keep faith alive in the face of relentless violence.