Insecurity continues to worsen in Nigeria’s northeast as terrorists took the lives of 20 civilians in fresh incidents on border communities in Borno and Adamawa states.
The events happened on Tuesday in Pubagu village, Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, and in Mayo-Ladde in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Residents say the terrorists arrived on motorcycles in large numbers.
They overpowered the local vigilantes who tried to defend the villages and then moved through the communities for about an hour.
During that time, the terrorists went from house to house, took food, livestock and other items, and left many families in shock.
Survivors told journalists that people ran into the nearby bushes to escape as the situation turned chaotic.
A community leader from one of the villages said the terrorists faced little resistance once they dealt with the vigilantes.
“They came in force and did what they wanted,” he explained on Wednesday when correspondents visited the area.
This incident follows a similar event in the same part of Askira Uba last year, where civilians also lost their lives.
The border region between the two states has seen repeated problems even with security forces present in the area.
People who live there say they now feel more afraid that such events could happen again if conditions stay the same.
Some families have already begun moving loved ones to bigger towns, while others are asking for more soldiers to stay close to the border villages.
Local government officials confirmed that 20 people lost their lives, but they added that teams are still putting together full details because some bodies remain to be recovered from the surrounding bush areas.
The military has not released any statement about Tuesday’s events so far.
For years, the northeast has dealt with activity from terrorists linked to Boko Haram and groups that broke away from it.
Villages in these remote border zones often face the hardest effects because roads are few and help can take time to arrive.
On Wednesday, many families in Pubagu and Mayo-Ladde buried those they lost and tried to gather what remained of their belongings.
One woman who lost two family members said daily life in the village now means balancing farm work with constant worry about what might come next.
Observers note that raids like this let terrorists gather supplies while they keep pressure on local people and defence groups.
The use of motorcycles for quick strikes in these border areas has become a known pattern.
As darkness fell on Wednesday, tension stayed high in the communities.
Residents kept watch together and hoped security forces would step in more quickly when future incidents arise.
