Despite repeated assurances by the Federal Government that the war against Boko Haram is being won, remote communities like Kulda in Adamawa State continue to suffer deadly insurgent attacks with little or no military protection.

On Friday, May 16, 2025, Boko Haram fighters stormed Kulda, a village in Zah Ward of Hong Local Government Area, killing at least 16 people. Witnesses reported that the attackers, riding motorbikes in groups of three, launched the assault around 5 p.m. and operated until nearly midnight.

“They operated from around 5 p.m. till almost midnight. They didn’t just burn houses; they killed 16 people,” Dorcas Solomon, who lost family members in the attack, told The Guardian.

Residents revealed that neighbouring villages had been targeted multiple times before without intervention from security forces. It was only after Kulda itself was attacked that the army arrived, but without taking action or even investigating the casualties.

“They came a day after the attack. The army didn’t do anything,” said Yunisa Abbey, the acting village head, after his brother was killed two months ago.

“Boko Haram’s camp is still close by. The army knows this but has done nothing to stop further attacks,” he added during a phone conversation with our correspondent.

Abbey said some villagers fled into the bush during the raid, while others remain missing. “If the government doesn’t protect us, people may be forced to take up arms. We are trying to join vigilante groups,” he warned.

Villagers are still mourning their loved ones and living in fear, hoping for urgent government intervention.

Aside from insecurity, residents of Kulda face severe neglect, lacking access to clean drinking water, healthcare, and emergency services.

“We need good drinking water. During the dry season, it gets worse. We have no clinic; people must travel to Garkida for treatment,” Solomon said. “I wish I could bear the burden alone, but we need help.”

The attack on Kulda comes amid allegations of sabotage within Nigeria’s security forces. On 21 May 2025, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum alleged during a live interview on News Central’s Breakfast Central that some military personnel and politicians were collaborating with Boko Haram.

“We have informants and collaborators within the armed forces, politicians, and communities,” Zulum stated. “We shall strengthen our intelligence and deal with them ruthlessly.”

Meanwhile, the people of Kulda remain trapped in fear, mourning their dead, and bracing for another attack, with no clear sign of support from the government.