Terrorist attack kills around 30 christians in villages of Adamawa, Nigeria

Gov. Ahmadu Umar Fintri in white skull cap and blue long dress inspecting an unnamed Church burnt during the invasion of Guyaku, Gombi County, Adamawa State, North East Nigeria, Monday April 27, 2026. (Credit: @GovernorAUF ).

#Nigeria

On April 26, 2026, northeastern Nigeria was once again marked by extremist violence

Members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), affiliated with ISIS, launched two coordinated attacks against predominantly Christian communities in Gombi County, Adamawa State.

In total, at least 30 Christians were killed, dozens were injured, and several houses, churches, and vehicles were set on fire.

The terrorists, estimated to number between 60 and 70, arrived on motorcycles during the day, armed with assault rifles and wearing turbans.

The first target was the community of Guyaku, where people were gathered to watch a local football tournament.

Without warning, the attackers opened fire on players, fans, and residents who were there.

Many ran desperately for cover, but the extremists spared neither the elderly nor the sick who were unable to flee: some were shot, others killed with machetes.

After firing indiscriminately, the militants spent hours in the village undisturbed.

They set fire to houses, churches, shops, cars, and motorcycles, and looted everything they could carry.

Guyaku is an almost entirely Christian community, inhabited mainly by members of the Hona and Kilba ethnic groups, with a strong Christian tradition spanning almost a century.

Residents say the attack left more than 21 dead and more than 40 wounded in that locality alone.

Then, the same attackers went to the neighboring community of Yedul D, where they killed about 10 more people and repeated the destruction: they burned homes and churches, spreading terror and devastation.

The action lasted several hours, without any security forces appearing to stop it.

Days earlier, on April 22nd, another Christian community called Mayo-Ladde, in the neighboring county of Hong, suffered a similar attack, attributed to Boko Haram.

Nine people were killed and several houses destroyed, showing that the region remains vulnerable to this type of organized violence.

The governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umar Fintiri, visited Guyaku shortly after the attack.

Visibly shaken, he declared that the heart of the state was broken and promised that those responsible would not go unpunished.

“We will intensify security operations, rebuild, and remain resilient,” he stated.

However, residents report constant fear and a lack of confidence in government protection.

Many are leaving the area, including families who sent elderly relatives to safer cities like Yola.

A university professor born in Guyaku, who spoke with surviving relatives, described the scene as pure horror.

He recounted that the terrorists showed no mercy and that the attack during the football event caught everyone by surprise.

The traditional leader of Gombi County also lamented the events, acknowledging that the tournament ended up becoming an opportunity for the invaders.

These attacks are part of a broader pattern of violence in northeastern Nigeria, where groups like ISWAP and Boko Haram have terrorized Christian communities and other minorities for years.

The tactics are similar: quick attacks with motorcycles, shootings, arson, and destruction of religious symbols.

Often, extremists claim responsibility for the actions on channels like Telegram, as happened this time with ISWAP.

The local population lives under constant tension.

Beyond the deaths, the psychological and economic impact is enormous: families lose loved ones, homes, and livelihoods.

The lack of an immediate response from security forces raises questions about the state’s ability to protect citizens in remote areas.

While the governor promises justice and reconstruction, survivors are asking for more than words: real security and a constant presence of the army and police.

Unfortunately, episodes like this reveal the fragility of many Christian communities in northern Nigeria, who continue to pay a high price for their faith amidst the Islamist insurgency.

The pain in Adamawa is collective.

Families mourn their dead, villages rebuild what was destroyed, and everyone hopes that one day peace will reign again in this suffering region of the country.

Published in 04/30/2026 04h38

Portuguese version

Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.

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