About 27 persons have been murdered after a joint Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists attack in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to Vanguard, the terrorists overran Shuwari Sholi community, killing residents and burning structures in an attack that lasted several hours.
Among the dead is the village head of Shuwari, Bademi Papka, identified as a cousin of Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers stormed the community on motorcycles, targeting villagers sitting near the village market and those at the market square.
“They started shooting at people sitting together under a tree near the market,” the eyewitness said.
The eyewitness noted that residents fled in different directions for safety as the insurgents fired sporadically.
“By God’s grace, some of us escaped unhurt, but many were shot dead while we scampered toward the mountains,” the source said.
He also noted that military personnel in the area were alerted but arrived after the attackers had left.
“The situation is a bit calm now, but we are still living in fear and uncertainty. We are calling on the government to redouble efforts to address this menace,” he said.
Confirming the incident, former Madagali Local Government chairman, Maina Ularamu, said the attack indeed took place, though casualty figures varied.
“Some reports say about 20 people were killed, while others suggest the number is higher. The exact figure will only be known once people have settled after the initial fear and chaos,” he stated.
