Boko Haram Attack Adamawa Communities Claims Life Of Village Head, 17 Others

At least 18 people, including a village head, were killed on Tuesday when suspected Boko Haram terrorists stormed two communities in Shewari area of Adamawa State, unleashing hours of terror that left residents fleeing for safety.

Local sources told SaharaReporters that the attackers invaded the communities in the late hours, shooting sporadically and setting parts of the settlements ablaze.

According to them, 18 people were killed.

“The terrorists were heavily armed. They stormed the communities and killed many people. After everything, we realised that 18 people were killed,” a resident said.

Also, a police source told SaharaReporters that at least 17 people were killed during the attack.

Among those reportedly killed was the Village Head of Shewari, Ignatius Papka Bademi, identified as Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s cousin.

The attack occurred in Shewari and a neighbouring community Kirchinga, with witnesses describing scenes of chaos as gunmen moved from house to house. Several residents were also reportedly injured, while many others fled into nearby bushes and adjoining towns.

The latest assault underscores the persistent security crisis plaguing parts of Adamawa, despite repeated assurances from authorities that insurgent activities have been significantly degraded.

In the immediate aftermath of the killings, Governor Fintiri was noticeably absent from public engagements on Wednesday.

Government House sources confirmed that the governor did not attend to official functions and maintained low visibility throughout the day.

“He did not appear in the office today,” a senior official familiar with the situation disclosed. “All scheduled engagements were either postponed or handled by aides.”

The governor’s low profile followed mounting outrage over the deadly attack and growing concerns about the deteriorating security situation in parts of the state.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Adamawa State on Wednesday visited the affected communities to assess the damage and coordinate security response efforts.

Police spokesperson for the state command, SP Suleiman Nguroje said additional deployments had been made to the area to prevent further attacks and reassure frightened residents.

Residents, however, expressed frustration, accusing security agencies of responding only after casualties had been recorded.

The Shewari killings come amid renewed fears of insurgent resurgence in parts of northeastern Nigeria, with communities in remote areas increasingly vulnerable to cross-border raids and coordinated assaults.

As of the time of filing this report, there had been no official statement from the state government detailing the full casualty figure or outlining specific measures to forestall a recurrence. (SaharaReporters)