At least 20 people have been killed after suspected Islamic militants launched coordinated night raids on border communities in Borno and Adamawa states, in one of the latest waves of violence in Nigeria’s North-East.
The attacks, which began late Tuesday, April 21, 2026, targeted Pubagu in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State and Mayo-Ladde in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The two communities, separated by a river, were reportedly overrun within minutes as attackers moved in large numbers on motorcycles and engaged local defenders for over an hour.
In Borno State, 11 residents were confirmed killed in Pubagu, a rural community on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest. Local officials said the village, previously regarded as relatively stable, was caught off guard by the scale and coordination of the assault.
Mwada Saidu Uba said local hunters and vigilantes attempted to resist the attack but were quickly overwhelmed.
“Pubagu is one of the communities that had never experienced such an attack until yesterday,” he said. “By the time security forces arrived, the damage had already been done.”
The attackers reportedly crossed into Adamawa State shortly after the initial assault, striking Mayo-Ladde in Hong LGA. Nine more residents were killed, while several others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Sabon Birni.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as homes were set ablaze and shops looted. Residents said the attackers operated with little resistance due to superior firepower compared to local defenders.
Authorities confirmed 20 deaths (11 in Borno and 9 in Adamawa), several critically injured residents, and widespread destruction including dozens of homes and food stores that were either burned or looted.
The attacks come amid renewed security concerns in the region, including reports of hostage-taking incidents and ransom demands by insurgent groups operating in the wider North-East.
Security sources say the latest violence highlights ongoing gaps in rural protection, particularly in communities near forested and border areas where militants are able to move quickly and evade response forces.
Authorities have increased patrols along the Borno–Adamawa axis, while security agencies continue search-and-clear operations in surrounding areas to track the attackers.
Officials say efforts are ongoing to restore calm and prevent further incursions into vulnerable farming settlements.
For survivors, the trauma remains immediate and severe.
“They shot men and women for over an hour,” one resident said. “We buried our dead, but we don’t know if they will come back.”
As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 election cycle, insecurity in rural “food-basket” regions continues to remain a major concern for both authorities and humanitarian agencies, with repeated attacks raising fresh questions about protection in hard-to-reach communities.