Suspected Boko Haram terrorists invaded Tarfa village in Borno State, killing five residents including a pastor and burning homes.
Boko Haram terrorists unleashed havoc on Tarfa village in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State late Thursday evening, January 22, 2026.
They arrived on motorcycles around 7 p.m., firing shots indiscriminately and setting fire to houses and shops.
The attackers operated without interference for over an hour, leaving a trail of destruction that forced survivors to flee into the night.
Eyewitnesses recounted the terror gripping the community.
One anonymous resident described how the terrorists “came en masse and started burning houses and shops,” prompting people to run for their lives.
Another source, who escaped the village, emphasized the ongoing fear: “We are under constant fear.
Five people died, including Pastor Musa Umoru. As I speak, I have fled Tarfa. We need urgent government intervention.”
The victims included Pastor Evangelist Musa Umoru of the Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) church, along with four other residents.
Reports from local hunters confirmed that two of their members perished while trying to resist the onslaught, overwhelmed by the terrorists’ superior firepower.
Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Borno State, Most Rev. John Bakeni, verified the casualties.
He stated, “Truly, an attack happened yesterday evening in a village called Tarfa.
Five people lost their lives, including the EYN pastor there.
The entire village burned down.”
Meanwhile, authorities struggled to respond promptly.
Borno State Police spokesperson ASP Nahum Daso acknowledged the report but noted he lacked full details and promised to investigate further.
The delay in communication stemmed partly from poor telecommunications in the remote area, which borders Biu Local Government Area.
This assault echoes a pattern of violence in Borno, a hotspot for Boko Haram’s 17-year insurgency that has claimed over 35,000 lives and displaced 2.5 million people since 2009, according to Global Terrorism Database trends.
Just days earlier, on January 21, terrorists ambushed and killed eight Nigerian soldiers in the region, underscoring the persistent threat to both civilians and security forces.
Furthermore, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a Boko Haram splinter group, claimed responsibility for a similar raid on Tarfa, boasting they killed two “Christian fighters” and burned 10 houses.
Such claims highlight the sectarian undertones of the attacks, which often target Christian communities in the predominantly Muslim northeast.
On social media platform X, reactions poured in, decrying the violence as targeted persecution against Christians.
Users urged U.S. intervention under President Trump, with one post stating, “Christian genocide in Nigeria. 2 state solution is the only option President Trump.”
Others expressed frustration over Nigeria’s security failures in rural areas, with comments like “Christians die every day—yet somehow it’s not genocide” and “When does it end?”
In addition, local leaders and survivors called for immediate deployment of security forces to prevent further atrocities.
As Tarfa smolders, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the insurgency’s grip on Borno, where remote villages remain vulnerable despite ongoing military efforts.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, but residents demand swift action to restore safety and rebuild what the terrorists destroyed.
