A wave of brutal violence has swept through the Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, as suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched a coordinated offensive, overrunning the towns of Sheweri and Kirchinga.
The assault, which began in the early hours of the morning, has triggered a humanitarian crisis as thousands of residents were forced to flee into the surrounding bush to escape the carnage.
According to local reports, the insurgents first stormed Sheweri, moving swiftly to set residential and public buildings ablaze. Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene of smoke and gunfire, noting that several individuals are feared dead as the rampage continued unabated.
“The village is engulfed in flames,” one escapee remarked. “People were running under fire; there was no time to gather belongings, only to save one’s life.”
In a calculated escalation, the attackers proceeded to the bustling market of Kirchinga. Nigerian military personnel stationed in the area attempted to intercept the insurgents, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire.
Despite the troops’ efforts to halt the advance, sources indicate that the military was eventually forced to retreat under the sheer weight of the insurgents’ fire. This development is particularly significant as Kirchinga is the ancestral home of the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
The recent volatility in the region manifests in three distinct and harrowing incidents. In Sheweri, the invasion was characterised by a “scorched earth” approach, resulting in the wholesale destruction of property and massive civilian displacement.
This was followed by the strategic raid on the Kirchinga market, where the insurgents successfully repelled a military counter-offensive, effectively seizing control of the community. These events mirror a prior deadly strike at the Garahamojili military camp, where the loss of personnel and the looting of heavy military hardware marked a significant blow to the local security apparatus.
Security analysts have expressed grave concern over this spate of attacks, suggesting that the insurgents are growing increasingly bold in their attempts to seize and hold territory. At the time of this report, official military spokespersons remained unavailable for comment.
The continued targeting of vital infrastructure and population centres underscores the immense challenge facing security forces as they struggle to contain the resurgent insurgency in the northeast.
Leave a comment