January 23, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel | News
Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have killed a Christian pastor and at least four other residents during a violent attack on Tarfa village in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, leaving the community completely devastated.
According to local sources, the attackers stormed the rural village at about 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, riding on motorcycles and firing sporadically as they moved from house to house. Homes, shops, and other structures were set ablaze, forcing residents to flee in fear for their lives.
Witnesses said the assailants operated freely for more than an hour without any visible resistance from security operatives, burning down most of the village and displacing an unknown number of residents. Several people are feared dead, while survivors have scattered to neighbouring communities.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State, Most Rev. John Bakeni, told journalists on Friday that five people were killed in the attack, including an Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) pastor serving the community.
“It is true there was an attack yesterday evening in Tarfa village. Five people were killed, including the EYN pastor. The entire village was burnt down,” Bakeni said.
Eyewitnesses described the assault as overwhelming, noting that the gunmen arrived in large numbers and unleashed terror on defenceless civilians.
“They came en masse, shooting and burning houses and shops. People ran in different directions to save their lives,” a resident said, requesting anonymity for security reasons.
Another source identified the slain pastor as Pastor Evangelist Musa Umoru and appealed to the government for urgent security intervention, warning that survivors remain in grave danger.
“We are living in constant fear. Five people were killed, including Pastor Musa Umoru. I have already fled Tarfa. We urgently need security deployment,” the source said.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said he was yet to receive a detailed report of the incident and promised to verify the claims. He had not provided further updates as of the time of filing this report.
Borno State continues to be a major hotspot of insurgent violence, with repeated attacks on rural communities raising serious concerns about civilian safety and the adequacy of security presence in remote areas.
