Yobe Horror: Pastor, Five Others Slain in Suspected Boko Haram Attack

In a horrific incident early Friday, suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Kwari, Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe state, claiming the life of Pastor Luka Levong from the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) and five other victims. The assailants, who struck around 2:00 am, also set houses and vehicles ablaze.

Residents evacuating the victims to Specialist Hospital Geidam reported that the attackers shot the pastor and his church treasurer, Maina Abdullahi, before proceeding to kill others in separate houses. Security forces arrived after the assaults.

As of now, both the military and the Nigerian Police Force have not commented on the incident. Geidam, located 177 kilometers from Damaturu, is just 40 kilometers from the Nigeria/Niger Republic border.

This tragedy follows closely on the heels of another Boko Haram attack in Yobe State, where 12 people were killed and two injured in the Gartamawa community of Chibok Local Government Area. The militants, heavily armed with AK-47 rifles and riding motorcycles and Hilux vans, attacked mourners returning from Gatamarwa during New Year celebrations. Additionally, the Tsiha community near Shikarkir was attacked, resulting in three deaths and the abduction of a young lady.

Boko Haram’s insurgency, which began in 2009, has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced more than two million people. The conflict has extended beyond Nigeria, affecting Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, leading to the establishment of a regional military force to combat the militants.