More than 60 people were killed in an overnight assault by militants in the village of Darul Jamal in Nigeria's north-eastern Borno State, local officials said, as the Nigerian Air Force launched strikes against suspected attackers.
Militants attacked Darul Jamal, a community on the Nigeria-Cameroon border that hosts a military base, on Friday night, killing at least five soldiers, officials said. Local authorities added that at least 13 drivers and labourers who had been working on reconstruction efforts in the town were among the dead. The overall death toll stood at more than 60, according to the officials.
The Nigerian Air Force said it struck and killed 30 militants after receiving reports of the raid. It was not immediately clear whether the air strikes occurred during the attack or in follow-up operations, or whether the militants killed in the strikes are included in the village's reported death toll.
The raid caused heavy material damage in Darul Jamal, destroying more than 20 houses and about 10 buses, officials and residents reported. The village had been resettled only months earlier after years of displacement, and many residents had returned to rebuild homes and livelihoods.
Borno Governor Babagana Zulum visited Darul Jamal on Saturday and described the attack as a setback for communities that had sought to return to normal life. "It's very sad, this community was resettled some months ago and they went about their normal business," he told AFP. He warned that the numerical strength of the Nigerian army was insufficient to contain the situation.
The assault comes amid a resurgence of jihadist activity in Nigeria's north-east, where Boko Haram and a rival faction affiliated with the Islamic State group have increased attacks in recent months. Insurgent violence in Borno has displaced hundreds of thousands of people over more than a decade and repeatedly disrupted reconstruction and humanitarian efforts.
Darul Jamal's proximity to the Cameroon border and the presence of a military base reflect long-standing security challenges in the borderlands, where militants have carried out cross-border raids, ambushes and attacks on both civilian and military targets. Local and international agencies have repeatedly warned that resumed resettlement and reconstruction in recently reclaimed areas remain vulnerable without sustained security and support.
Officials did not immediately provide a full breakdown of the victims by civilian or military status beyond the confirmed soldiers and workers. Investigations and further security operations were underway, authorities said, as they sought to secure the area and account for the dead and missing.
Humanitarian actors have said that renewed attacks hinder access for relief organizations and imperil the safe return of displaced persons. The recent violence in Borno underscores the broader challenge facing Nigerian and regional forces as they contend with multiple armed groups operating across north-eastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad basin.
The government and military have periodically announced operations and new security initiatives aimed at degrading militant capabilities, while also calling for greater regional cooperation. Local leaders and residents in affected communities have repeatedly urged faster deployment of protection and reconstruction resources to prevent fresh waves of displacement.
Authorities appealed for calm as security measures were stepped up in the area. Further details were expected as military and civilian investigators assessed the scene and compiled casualty lists, officials said.