Source: www.morningstarnews.org
Date: October 12, 2026
At least one Christian dead, church building burned.
By Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
Location of Adamawa state in Nigeria. (User Profoss, Uwe Dedering, Creative Commons)
ABUJA, Nigeria (Christian Daily International-Morning Star News) – Suspected Islamic terrorists attacked three predominantly Christian villages in Adamawa state, Nigeria, on Thursday (Oct. 8), killing at least one person and torching at least one church building, sources said.
The assailants attacked Tela-Bala, Guyaku and Sabon Gari villages in Gombi County, said area resident Wreforce Hassan Usman.
“I woke up this morning with a broken heart as Boko Haram attacked some our Christian communities in Gombi,” Usman said in a text message to Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “The attacks resulted in the burning of churches, houses, shops, hospitals and other valuable properties, as well as the tragic killing of some of our people.”
The terrorists killed one person and set a church building on fire in Tela-Bala, Guyaku District and torched a church building, according to Sahara Reporters, adding that a car and other property was burned.
Usman told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that growing insecurity in Gombi County is alarming and requires urgent and decisive government intervention.
“This is deeply painful and unacceptable,” he said. “Our people deserve to live in peace, sleep without fear, and go about their daily activities without the threat of violence. How many more lives must be lost before this situation receives the serious attention it deserves? Our people are crying for help, and we cannot afford to remain silent while our communities continue to suffer. Our people deserve peace. Our communities deserve protection. And our government must act now.”
Christian Daily International-Morning Star News reached area resident Hossana Dauda late at night on Thursday (Oct. 8).
“Pray for my village, Tela-Bala, and other villages, Guyaku and Sabon Gari, that are now being attacked by Boko Haram and ISWAP [Islamic State West Africa Province] terrorists,” she said in a text message. “God have mercy on my people.”
Area resident Dishon Balda said Guyaku village was attacked by Boko Haram terrorists.
“The attack resulted in loss of lives, damage to important community facilities, including a church, residential houses, and a clinic,” Balda told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. “The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety and security of residents and the destruction of essential facilities that serve the community. The people of Guyaku need urgent attention, adequate security, and support to help them recover from this unfortunate incident.”
He called on the relevant authorities to investigate, strengthen security and provide the necessary assistance to the affected residents.
Boko Haram, officially known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, seeks to impose sharia (Islamic law) throughout Nigeria. The jihadist militant group based in northeastern Nigeria saw a split in 2016 that resulted in the emergency of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The name Boko Haram was long translated at “Western education is forbidden,” but the group says it should be translated as “Western civilization is forbidden.” Boko Haram insurgents believe other Muslims who do not join their jihad are infidels and thus justify killing them as well as “apostates.” This position is considered part of strict Salafi jihadism but not mainstream Islam.
A legislator in the Adamawa State House of Assembly representing Gombi, Rufa’i Umar, said in a press statant on Friday (Oct. 9) that area residents deserve to live in peace without fear.
“This is indeed a very sad moment for all of us,” Umar said. “I share in your grief and I stand with you during this painful period. The loss of innocent lives is a loss to all of us in Gombi. I call on the government and all relevant security agencies to urgently strengthen security architecture around Gombi Local Government Area to prevent a recurrence of such tragedy.”
Unidentified terrorists had attacked Tela-Bala in April. Sahara Reporters cited Adamawa Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri as confirming 29 people were killed who had gathered to watch a football (soccer) match.
More Christians were killed in Nigeria than in any other country from Oct. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2025, according to Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List. Of the 4,849 Christians killed worldwide for their faith during that period, 3,490 – 72 percent – were Nigerians, an increase from 3,100 the prior year.
Nigeria ranked No. 7 on the WWL list of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.