KANO (Nigeria): A tragic incident unfolded late Tuesday in Adamawa State, northeast Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 people and the destruction of several homes due to an assault by armed men, according to local residents and the state governor.
The attacks took place in two villages, Kirchinga and Garaha, located near the Sambisa Forest, an area known for the activities of Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). This latest violence sheds light on the ongoing insecurity that has plagued northeast Nigeria for years, stemming from a 17-year-long Islamist insurgency, despite numerous military efforts to restore peace.
Abubakar Lawan Kanuri, the head of Kirchinga village, informed reporters that the attackers arrived in the evening, wearing military uniforms that misled the residents into thinking they were soldiers on patrol. He reported that 18 bodies were recovered after the attackers swept through the village.
In Garaha, the situation was similarly dire, with seven additional fatalities reported. Witness Musa Isa shared that armed men on over 50 motorcycles stormed the village and targeted a nearby military base, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers. He narrowly escaped the chaos himself, as the attackers approached from multiple directions. Tragically, four residents who attempted to flee were shot, and a school in the area was set on fire. Following the violence, many villagers have sought refuge in Mubi, the nearest large town.
