A renewed wave of insecurity has gripped Adamawa State after armed men launched a late-night assault on Kirchinga community, ending in the killing of a former councillor and the abduction of his two sons.
The attack has unsettled residents, who describe it as one of the most alarming incidents to hit the area in recent months.
The slain victim, identified as Hon. Thlama Sini, previously represented Kirchinga Ward in the Madagali Local Government Council.
He was reportedly taken from his home by the attackers, who also seized his children before leading the family into the night.
Local sources said he was later executed, while the gunmen disappeared into the surrounding forests with the boys.
Kirchinga carries symbolic weight in Adamawa’s political landscape, being the hometown of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
The assault has therefore deepened anxiety among residents, who already live under the shadow of intermittent terrorist raids.
A community elder described the atmosphere as “a painful reminder that nowhere feels safe anymore, not even the governor’s backyard.”
Accounts from family members suggest that the attackers invaded Sini’s compound with clear demands.
One relative explained that the former councillor pleaded with the gunmen when they ordered him and his children into the bush.
“He told them he was battling diabetes and high blood pressure and could not trek deep into the forest, but they dismissed him,” the relative said.
The gunmen reportedly dragged Sini to the fringes of the village, where they shot him dead. His children were taken away, prompting a frantic search by locals and security volunteers.
Moreover, the incident has pushed many households into heightened fear, with residents calling for stronger security presence and improved surveillance in the region.
Authorities have not issued a public statement, but security teams and community groups are said to be combing the area in an effort to locate the abducted boys.
The unfolding situation continues to draw attention to the persistent vulnerability of farming communities across Adamawa and the broader North-East, where similar attacks often leave families shattered and justice elusive.