George Omagbemi Sylvester
At least 27 people, including the village head of Shuwari and a cousin of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, were killed in a coordinated terrorist attack by militants linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State on Tuesday night, February 24, 2026. Local authorities and residents confirmed the fatalities as security sources continue to assess the scale of destruction caused by the violence.
The assailants struck the Shuwari/Sholi area in Madagali, firing indiscriminately at villagers gathered near the market and burning structures in their path. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as residents fled toward nearby bushes for safety. Among the dead was Ignatius Papka Bademi, the village head and relative of Governor Fintiri, heightening local alarm over the persistence of insurgent violence in the region.
Adamawa borders the volatile Sambisa Forest corridor, a stronghold for both Boko Haram and ISWAP, which have waged a 17‑year Islamist insurgency in northeastern Nigeria. These groups routinely launch hit‑and‑run raids on remote communities to destabilize civilian life and challenge state authority, despite ongoing military operations.
Governor Fintiri condemned the attacks as “cowardly acts of terrorism” and vowed strengthened security measures to protect vulnerable communities, while residents continue to mourn and flee the affected villages.
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