RismadarVoice Reporters
January 23, 2026
Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have reportedly killed an Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) pastor, four other residents during an attack on Tarfa village in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attackers were said to have stormed the community at about 7:00p.m. on Thursday, firing sporadically, displacing residents, and setting houses, other structures ablaze.
The assailants arrived on motorcycles and reportedly operated for over one hour without resistance from security operatives.
Confirming the incident on Friday, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Borno State chapter, Most Rev. John Bakeni, said five persons, including the EYN pastor, were killed.
“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 also confirmed that many residents fled the area following the attack.
“It was a devastating attack. They stormed the community en masse and set houses on fire, including shops,” one resident, who spoke anonymously, said.
Another source appealed to the government to urgently increase the deployment of security operatives to the area, warning that residents remain under threat.
“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 added.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the spokesperson of the Borno State Police Command, ASP Nahum Daso, said he would verify the incident.
“I will inquire and revert,” Daso said in a message to PUNCH Online. As of press time, the police were yet to provide further details.
