Over 50 people, including four soldiers, have died in two separate attacks in Adamawa State, North-East Nigeria.

The soldiers and over 40 civilians died in a raid by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect in three local government areas in the state.

The soldiers died in a gun battle on Sunday with the sect members in Garkida community in Gombi Local Government Area.

Garkida is the border town between Adamawa and Borno states and its south of the Sambisa forest, which is believed to be the hiding place of the sect.

Residents of Garkida community told Channels Television that the insurgents, who stormed the town around 5pm local time on Sunday, overpowered the military stationed in the town and laid siege on the community.

Residents of the community remained in their hideouts hours after the attack for fear of continuous attack by Boko Haram.

There is no official confirmation of the attack but eyewitnesses say that several residents of the community were killed in the attack.

Aside the military base, the group attacked two churches and destroyed several houses in the community.

Also, in Madagali Local Government Area, six persons were killed as suspected members of the group carted away food items.

This is in addition to the many people killed in three communities in Hong Local Government Area of the state, as reported yesterday by News Express. The affected villages are Zar, Lube, Mubeng. The village head of Zar community, retired Wing Commander Dauda Daniel, was declared missing after the attack and is yet to be found.

The Acting Governor of the State, Honourable Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has commiserated with the families of the victims in the affected local government areas.

In a statement signed by his spokesman, Mr. Solomon Kumanga, the governor said that the government was collaborating with other security agencies to end Boko Haram’s activities in the state.

The north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe are under a state of emergency rule that has lasted for over one year to enable the Nigerian Armed Forces, deployed for counter-terrorism operations since the insurgency stated in 2009, carry out their operations better.

The military said it is doing its best to contain the incessant bombings and attacks in the region, but requested for more funding and military equipment to enable them end the insurgency.

•Photo shows scene of a Boko Haram attack.

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