By Desire Emmanuel with Agency Reports
At least 25 persons were killed and several houses burnt down after gunmen attacked two villages late on Tuesday in Adamawa State, residents and the state governor said on Wednesday.
The attackers struck Kirchinga in Madagali district and Garaha in neighbouring Hong, two villages on the edge of the Sambisa Forest where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operate.
Abubakar Lawan Kanuri, the village head of Kirchinga, told Reuters News Agency on Wednesday, February 25, that the attackers arrived on Tuesday evening dressed in military uniforms which initially led residents to mistake them for soldiers on patrol.
He added that 18 bodies were recovered after the gunmen swept through the community.
In Garaha, seven persons were killed when gunmen on more than 50 motorcycles stormed the village and attacked a nearby military base, said resident Musa Isa, who added that he “narrowly escaped.”
They advanced from several directions and hit the military base, killing three soldiers. Four fleeing residents were shot, and a school was also burned. Many villagers have since fled to Mubi, the nearest big town, Isa said.
Adamawa State governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri while speaking on the attacks, described them as “cowardly acts of terrorism” and vowed not to “let terrorists undermine our efforts to restore peace and stability.”
He wrote on his X handle: “I mourn with the good people of Adamawa State over the cowardly attacks in Madagali and Hong. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and to every community affected by this tragedy.
“We will not surrender any inch of our state to fear. Working with our security agencies, we will pursue the perpetrators and ensure justice is served.
“Adamawa has overcome dark moments before and we shall overcome again. Stay strong. We stand together.”
