Boko Haram fighters massacred residents in Darul Jamal, a community recently resettled after years of displacement, killing at least 60 people late Friday and forcing over 100 to flee, according to officials and witnesses. The governor of Borno state visited the scene and promised additional security and relief supplies as authorities counted the dead and assessed the burned homes.

What Happened In Darul Jamal

Residents said gunmen swept through the village in a nighttime raid, setting houses ablaze in “house-to-house” attacks that overwhelmed local defenses. Borno’s governor confirmed “over 60” fatalities and told survivors, “We sympathize with the people,” pledging food and lifesaving items alongside strengthened protection to deter further incursions.

A Village Only Just Resettled

Darul Jamal hosts families who returned from camps this summer under the state’s Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement program, which delivered 500 new homes for more than 3,000 people. The abrupt return to violence has rattled those efforts, with some residents preparing to leave again despite appeals to remain while security is reinforced.

Factional Feud, Civilian Toll

Researchers and local contacts said the assault was carried out by Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), a Boko Haram faction known for punishing perceived informants amid its struggle with ISWAP, a rival faction that tends to prioritize military targets. “When JAS attacks and kills a lot of people … it’s usually that they suspect the victims of spying,” one analyst said, capturing a pattern that has deepened civilian vulnerability across Borno.

The Wider Conflict Picture

The Lake Chad Basin insurgency has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions since 2009, with recent months marked by renewed tempo: ISWAP’s military operations have intensified, and suicide bombings resurfaced in Borno earlier this year. Friday’s killings underscore how resettled communities remain exposed as factions vie for territory, revenue, and intelligence dominance.