At least 25 people have been killed in two separate attacks by suspected Boko Haram fighters in Adamawa State, northeastern Nigeria, in renewed violence that has heightened fears among residents of border communities.
The attacks occurred in Madagali and Hong local government areas, both located near Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, a region that has experienced repeated incursions by insurgents over the years.
According to local accounts, gunmen believed to be members of Boko Haram stormed a market in Madagali on Tuesday evening, arriving on multiple motorcycles. The assailants reportedly opened fire indiscriminately on traders and residents, killing at least 21 people in the process.
Witnesses said the attackers also looted shops and carted away food items and motorcycles before fleeing the area. Community members indicated that search efforts were ongoing, with fears that additional victims may have succumbed to injuries while attempting to escape into nearby bushes.
In a separate but related incident in neighbouring Hong Local Government Area, four more people were confirmed dead, including three soldiers and a female civilian. Residents said the insurgents engaged security personnel before retreating, leaving casualties behind.
The renewed attacks have triggered panic in the affected communities, with some residents reportedly relocating to safer areas amid concerns of further violence. Security personnel have since been deployed to reinforce the towns and prevent additional incursions.
Adamawa State Governor, Adamu Umaru Fintiri, condemned the killings, describing the violence as unacceptable and vowing that efforts to restore peace and stability in the state would not be derailed. He warned perpetrators to desist from further attacks or face decisive action from security agencies.
The latest incidents underscore the persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s northeast, where insurgency has raged since 2009. The conflict, driven largely by Boko Haram and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people, according to humanitarian estimates.
Despite sustained military operations and regional collaboration among countries in the Lake Chad Basin, sporadic attacks continue to target civilians, markets, villages and security formations. The insurgency has also spilled across borders into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, complicating counter-terrorism efforts in the region.
Security analysts note that while Nigerian forces have recorded tactical gains in certain areas, the insurgents retain the capacity to carry out hit-and-run assaults, particularly in remote communities with limited security presence.
Authorities have assured residents of increased patrols and intelligence-driven operations to curb further violence, even as affected communities begin the difficult process of mourning and rebuilding in the aftermath of the attacks.
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