The assailants, said to be led by a notorious figure known as Mai Rasha, invaded the area on Tuesday afternoon, shooting indiscriminately as they moved in before razing the residence of the district head, Babangida Hamza.

“They arrived shooting and headed straight to my palace, which they set ablaze,” Hamza told journalists, confirming he was away when the incident occurred. He also revealed that his family members had been evacuated to safety before the attackers got there.

Hamza explained that he has long been a target for armed groups in the region, noting that threats had previously forced him to relocate. He also disclosed that he was kidnapped about six months ago over alleged ties with security agencies.

Residents reported that the attackers stayed in the community for several hours, until around 3:30 p.m., during which they carried out widespread looting, taking food items and valuables from shops and homes.