Amnesty International condemned an attack that left at least 29 people dead in the Guyaku community of Gombi Local Government Area, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The assault, attributed to Boko Haram militants, occurred on Sunday and resulted in numerous fatalities, missing persons and the displacement of villagers seeking safety.
In a statement posted on its official X account on Monday, Amnesty described the incident as a “vicious” assault on civilians. According to the organization, armed gunmen entered the community and opened fire at close range, targeting men, women and children. The group added that the militants set fire to several structures, including churches, classrooms and motorcycles, and destroyed additional property throughout the village.
Survivors and eyewitnesses reported seeing bodies scattered across the settlement after the attack. Several elderly residents were unable to escape the violence and were killed inside their homes. “Older people who could not flee were slaughtered inside their homes,” Amnesty noted in its release.
The organization highlighted that the assault forms part of a broader pattern of Boko Haram activity in the region, which includes the abduction of women and girls and the looting of homes and businesses. Amnesty warned that the persistence of such attacks underscores the urgent need for stronger protection measures for civilians and for mechanisms to ensure justice and reparations for victims’ families.
The attack follows a series of recent Boko Haram incidents in northeastern Nigeria, where the insurgent group has targeted villages, displaced thousands and strained humanitarian response efforts. Local authorities have launched an investigation and called for increased security deployments in the area, but security analysts say the group’s ability to operate across porous borders and rugged terrain continues to challenge counter‑insurgency operations.
International observers have called on the Nigerian government to intensify its efforts to protect vulnerable communities, improve early warning systems and hold perpetrators accountable. Amnesty International’s statement urges the authorities to address the systemic failures that allow such atrocities to recur and to provide comprehensive support to survivors, including medical aid, psychosocial assistance and legal recourse.
The incident in Guyaku adds to growing concerns about civilian safety in Adamawa State and the broader Lake Chad basin, where Boko Haram remains active despite ongoing military campaigns. As the death toll rises and families seek answers, the call for decisive action to safeguard civilians and restore stability in the region has become increasingly urgent.
