By Wellington Jopelo
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have killed an Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) pastor and four other residents during a deadly raid on Tarfa village in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attackers reportedly stormed the community at about 7 p.m. on Thursday, arriving on motorcycles and operating for more than an hour without any visible resistance from security forces. Residents said the assailants fired sporadically, forced people to flee, and set homes and shops ablaze, leaving much of the village in ruins.
Confirming the incident on Friday, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State, Most Rev. John Bakeni, said five people were killed, including the EYN pastor.
“Truly, there was an attack yesterday evening in a village called Tarfa. I was just informed that five people were killed, including the EYN pastor there. The entire village was burnt down,” Bakeni said.
Eyewitnesses described the assault as devastating, noting that many residents escaped into nearby bushes and neighbouring communities to save their lives.
“They came in large numbers and began setting houses on fire, including shops,” one resident, who asked not to be named, said.
Another source identified one of the victims as Pastor Evangelist Musa Umoru and appealed to the government to urgently deploy security operatives to the area.
“We are under threat. They killed five people, including Pastor Evangelist Musa Umoru. As I speak, I have left Tarfa. We need government intervention,” the source said.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said he was yet to verify the incident and promised to revert.
“I will inquire and revert,” he said in a message.
As of press time, no official statement had been issued by the police, while displaced residents continue to seek safety, fearing further attacks.