As survivor of Boko Haram violence whose father, Joseph and brother, Anthony were killed in cold blood by the sect exactly 12 years, shared his shock and nostalgia about the fresh killings of dozens of people in Shuwari Kirchinga, community in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
In an interview Advocatus Africa, Dr. Joseph Ijuptil noted that “The emotional remembrance comes amid renewed violence — one of the areas hardest hit by insurgent attacks in Nigeria’s northeast,”
In a deeply personal message, Dr. Ijuptil who said “the attack has reopened wounds that have barely healed,” further described how Boko Haram militants killed his father and half brother 12 years ago, leaving a permanent scar on his life.
Meanwhile, in the latest raid, residents disclose that the incident occurred around 4:00 pm on February 24, 2026, when suspected Boko Haram fighters stormed Shuwari village on motorcycles.
According to eyewitness accounts, the insurgents reportedly advanced from the River Yazaram axis and nearby Imirsa settlements, areas historically used as entry routes during earlier insurgent raids.
Locals said some of the attackers briefly parked their motorcycles at the Shuwari localmarket before launching a coordinated assault, setting shops and houses ablaze and opening fire on civilians attempting to flee.
Shuwari market burnt to ashes
“While hiding, we saw them chasing people who were running and shooting them,” one resident recalled.
Community members added that the first group of soldiers who responded were overwhelmed before reinforcements later arrived to repel the attackers.
The incident has once again plunged Kirchinga into mourning, reviving memories of past atrocities in a region where many families are still struggling to recover from years of insurgency.
A Son’s Tribute to Victims of Terror
Advocatus Africa’s annotation and data analyst stated that, “Today makes it exactly 12 years since you and Anthony… were brutally taken from us by Boko Haram.”
In his tribute, the doctorate holder in Mathematics from the University of Glasgow, UK, also shared that “the victims were killed without warning, leaving behind shattered families and unfulfilled dreams. He described his father as a disciplinarian who raised him with integrity, sincerity, and strong family values.
“You both left without saying a word. No goodbye. No final embrace. Just silence.”
The survivor maintained that he did not realise how much his father’s presence sheltered him until it was gone, adding that much of who he has become is “rooted in the foundation his father laid.”
Late Hon. Joseph P. Kwajighu. Credit: Ijuptil Joseph
He also paid tribute to Anthony, whom he described as “my twin brother from a different mother, my closest friend,” highlighting “the deep bond they shared despite different maternal backgrounds.”
Remembering Lives Cut Short
Family photographs shared alongside the tribute show the victims during their lifetime, capturing moments that now exist only in memory.
The survivor described his late father, Joseph as a mentor and protector whose absence left him “standing alone, fighting battles I was never fully prepared for.”
He reflected on the dreams his father had for him — ambitions that were never fulfilled because of the violence that cut his life short.
About Anthony, he said, “The memories of their shared struggles and laughter remain too heavy to revisit often, saying some wounds never truly close.”
According to him, “To both of you, I pray you continue to rest with the Lord,” he wrote. “You left indelible marks on my heart that time cannot erase.”
Fresh Killings Reopen Old Wounds
The remembrance took a darker turn with reports that new violence struck the same community just days before the anniversary.
Residents say Boko Haram fighters stormed Shuwari village in Kirchinga, arriving on motorcycles from the River Yazaram axis and nearby settlements.
A resident of Shuwari decries the raid
According to eyewitness accounts, some of the attackers reportedly parked motorcycles at the local market before launching the assault, setting shops and homes ablaze and opening fire on fleeing civilians.
“While hiding, we saw them chasing people who were running and shooting them,” one resident said.
Locals added that an initial military response was overwhelmed before reinforcements later repelled the attackers.
Some Names of Victims
Community sources identified some of those killed in the attack include Ignatius Papka Bademi Lawan, Dauda Ijigil, Vandu Dzugoriyu, Peter Dunya Imirsa, Mboina Uba, Hananiah Peter, and Papka Udurwa.
Others who lost their lives in the attack are Ntakurda Gurhengwal, Yardliya Ijafiya, Buhari Angelo Yaffa, Emmanuel Gabjal, Jauro Musa Vwa, Ijaduwa Bzigu, John Pur Imirsa, Ali Bukar, Madam MM Nkwa’akla, Mada M. Thlukumari, Jigidi Zaki, and Fayawood Yarastada.
Bodies of some victims
The identities reflect the deeply personal toll of the violence on families who have already endured years of insurgency.
A Community That Keeps Mourning
Madagali and surrounding communities in northern Adamawa were among the worst-hit areas during the peak of Boko Haram’s insurgency between 2013 and 2015. Entire villages were overrun, thousands displaced, and families torn apart.
While military operations later reclaimed much of the territory, sporadic attacks and memories of past atrocities continue to haunt survivors.
For families like the one behind this tribute, anniversaries are not just moments of remembrance but painful reminders of unfinished grief.
“You Are Not Gone From Me”: The Bigger Picture
“Despite the pain,” the scholar contends, “My tribute ends with a message of resilience and faith.”
According to him, “I dedicate this remembrance to all victims of Boko Haram violence, especially those from Kirchinga.”
Dr. Ijuptil also had this to say about the deceased members of his family: “You may be gone from this world, but you are not gone from me, forever.”
Without a doubt, his eulogy resonates with Nigerians who continue to grapple with the long-term human cost of insurgency in the northeast.
More than a decade after the rise of Boko Haram, survivors across Adamawa and neighbouring states continue to live with loss, trauma, and the fear that violence could return.
“For families in villages like Shuwari Kirchinga, the past is never truly past. Each new attack, each anniversary, and each memory serves as a reminder that the scars of terror remain deeply etched into the lives of those who survived,” Dr. Ijuptil submitted.
