Fresh fears have gripped residents of Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State following another night raid by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Zah and Mubang communities in Yadul district, days after deadly attacks on neighbouring communities left scores dead and many displaced.

The latest attack, which occurred on Monday night, came on the heels of similar assaults on Banga and Bitirhuya communities in Dugwaba district, where dozens of residents were reportedly killed, forcing many families to flee their homes.

Sources in the affected communities said the insurgents stormed Zah and Mubang under the cover of darkness but met stiff resistance from local forest guards backed by troops of the Nigerian military.

According to the sources, the superior firepower of the troops forced the terrorists to retreat before they could overrun the communities.

It was further gathered that the insurgents attempted to ambush military personnel along the Mubang–Dabna–Garaha Road. However, the plot was thwarted after security forces detected the movement and successfully repelled the attackers.

The renewed attacks have once again thrown residents of Yadul and Dugwaba districts into fear, with many expressing concern over the recurring wave of violence that has continued to plague the area despite sustained military operations.

Community leaders lamented that the affected communities had remained under constant threat since the Boko Haram insurgency intensified in the region in 2013, resulting in the death of hundreds of residents, the abduction of many others and the destruction of homes, farmlands, and property worth billions of Naira.

Confirming the latest incident in separate telephone conversations, the District Heads of Yadul and Dugwaba said the attackers were successfully repelled but warned that residents continue to live in fear of fresh invasions.

The District Head of Dugwaba, who struggled to hold back tears during the conversation, made an emotional appeal to the government to take decisive action against the insurgents.

“What have we done to them? When will the government put an end to this?” he lamented, expressing frustration over the repeated attacks on communities under his traditional domain.

The latest assault has reignited calls on both the Federal Government and the Adamawa State Government to strengthen security operations in vulnerable communities, improve intelligence gathering and provide lasting protection for residents who have lived under the shadow of insurgency for more than a decade.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the military nor other security agencies had issued an official statement on the latest attack. Residents, however, remain on high alert, fearing that the insurgents may strike again. (The Sun)