By Emmanuel Kwada
The once-vibrant communities of Dugwaba and Yadul in Adamawa State are now cloaked in grief, their lands stained with the blood of over 100 innocent lives lost to a relentless wave of Boko Haram attacks since January 2025.
In a heartfelt plea penned by Rev. Isaiah Bernard Yerima, President of the Great Garaha Association, the people of these communities cry out for urgent intervention from local, state, and national authorities to halt what they describe as a “calculated massacre” and “systematic ethno-religious cleansing.”
From January to May 2025, Boko Haram has unleashed a torrent of violence across at least seven villages in the Dugwaba/Yadul area, with Kwapre enduring five attacks, Dabna three, Zah two, and Garaha, Banga, Larh, and Kultha each struck at least once.
The most recent assault on Kultha, just two days ago, has left the community reeling. Nearby Mayollade in Gaya has also suffered, underscoring the widespread reach of this terror campaign.
Over 100 lives lost, with churches, schools, and private homes reduced to rubble, their destruction valued at hundreds of millions of Naira
The toll is staggering: over 100 lives lost, with churches, schools, and private homes reduced to rubble, their destruction valued at hundreds of millions of Naira.
Fields that once sustained these farming communities lie barren, and families are shattered, their homes burned to ashes. “We cannot cry any longer because our eyes are devoid of tears,” Rev. Yerima writes, capturing the depth of despair. “Our hearts [are] filled with grief and hopelessness.”
We cannot cry any longer because our eyes are devoid of tears
The attacks have displaced countless residents, scattering families like “leaves in a storm.” Some remain unaccounted for, their fates a haunting mystery.
Children mourn their parents, parents their children, and the entire community grieves a future stolen by violence. Rev. Yerima describes the onslaught as an assault not only on lives but on the very essence of their existence—livelihoods, heritage, and peace.
The letter, addressed to a spectrum of authorities including the Member representing Uba/Gaya, the Member representing Gombi/Hong, Senator Iya Abbas, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is both a lament and a call to action.
We need the immediate deployment of security forces—effective, visible, and unwavering—to secure our lands
“We need the immediate deployment of security forces—effective, visible, and unwavering—to secure our lands, to protect our people, to prevent another such tragedy,” Rev. Yerima pleads.
The community acknowledges the efforts of elder statesmen who have worked tirelessly to seek solutions and provide solace.
Yet, their efforts alone are insufficient against the scale of this crisis. “This is an emergency!” Rev. Yerima emphasizes, urging authorities to move beyond promises and deliver tangible action.
We need your voice to echo our demands for safety and justice
The plea extends to traditional rulers, revered as custodians of culture and heritage, whose wisdom and influence are seen as vital for restoring confidence and unity.
“We need your voice to echo our demands for safety and justice,” Rev. Yerima writes. Politicians, entrusted with the welfare of their constituents, are called out for “empty rhetoric” and urged to allocate resources and prioritize security.
To well-meaning individuals and philanthropists, the community appeals for compassion and support to rebuild homes, restore farms, and aid those who have lost everything. “Your contributions can help us heal and rebuild,” the letter states.
At the heart of Dugwaba/Yadul’s identity is agriculture. “Our people are farmers. Farming is our lifeblood,” Rev. Yerima writes.
Our people are farmers. Farming is our lifeblood
The community seeks only the right to cultivate their land in peace, to raise families in security, and to live on the land that has sustained them for generations. Yet, without immediate intervention, this way of life risks being erased.
Despite the overwhelming grief, Rev. Yerima’s letter carries a defiant resolve. “We will not be silenced. We will not be broken. We will rebuild,” he declares, rallying the community to stand united in their demand for justice and a secure future.
The letter concludes with a prayer for the souls of the departed and a renewed call for unity and action.
We will not be silenced. We will not be broken. We will rebuild
The attacks in Dugwaba/Yadul are part of Boko Haram’s broader insurgency, which began in 2009 and seeks to establish an Islamic state in northeastern Nigeria.
The group, officially known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, has a history of targeting civilians, religious institutions, and infrastructure, with Adamawa State frequently in its crosshairs.
A January 2025 attack in Borno State, which killed over 40 civilians, was condemned by Amnesty International as a sign of Boko Haram’s “utter disregard for the sanctity of life.” The group’s tactics, including roadside bombs and suicide attacks, have continued to devastate communities across the region.
As the people of Dugwaba/Yadul await a response, the nation’s leaders face mounting pressure to address the escalating violence. President Tinubu, Governor Fintiri, and National Security Adviser Ribadu have been thrust into the spotlight, with the community’s plea serving as a stark reminder of the human cost of inaction.
Let us stand together, united in our grief, united in our outrage, united in our demand for justice
The deployment of security forces, as requested, could mark a turning point, but the clock is ticking for a community on the brink.
Rev. Yerima’s letter, penned with tears and righteous anger, is not just a message to Nigeria’s leaders but a cry to the world. The people of Dugwaba/Yadul are fighting for survival, clinging to hope amidst unimaginable loss.
Their story is a testament to resilience, but also a warning: without urgent action, the blood on their soil will only deepen.
“Let us stand together, united in our grief, united in our outrage, united in our demand for justice, and united in our resolve to build a secure and prosperous future for our beloved Dugwaba/Yadul.”
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