Residents of Gari community in Pallam District, Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, have been thrown into panic following a midnight attack by suspected kidnappers.
The incident occurred at about 12:00 a.m. on Sunday, 22 January 2026, when unidentified gunmen reportedly stormed the community under the cover of darkness and abducted seven members of a family during a coordinated raid.
Eyewitnesses told Advocatus Africa that the attackers targeted the residence of one Ijuptil Vavanza, breaking into his second wife’s room.
“The assailants abducted the woman, her five children, and a grandson, bringing the total number of abducted persons to seven,” a resident claimed, detailing that “the attackers also rustled sheep and cattle during the operation.”
However, residents confirmed that while the sheep remained missing, the cattle were later found and returned.
Community sources further disclosed that the kidnappers subsequently contacted the family using unknown phone numbers, allegedly demanding a ransom of ₦100 million for the release of the captives.
The incident has sparked fear across Gari and surrounding communities, with residents describing the situation as traumatic.
“The entire community is in panic. People are afraid to sleep at night,” a resident said, adding that “families are now considering relocating to safer areas.”
Reacting to the incident, the Adamawa State Police Command confirmed the attack, announcing the launch of a joint rescue operation in collaboration with the military.
In a statement shared on the Command’s official Facebook page, the police stated that the incident involved the abduction of family members by suspected insurgents.
According to the statement, upon receipt of the report, the Command immediately intensified collaboration and deployed additional personnel and operational assets in a joint operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, troops of the 144 Battalion, and the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to the affected area and surrounding communities.
The Commissioner of Police, Adamawa State Command, CP Dankombo Morris, PSC, directed sustained search and rescue operations, reinforced patrols and heightened security presence across Madagali and other border communities.
The police said the measures were aimed at ensuring the safe rescue and return of the victims and preventing further attacks in the area.
Residents have appealed to the Adamawa State Government and security agencies to urgently strengthen security in rural communities, warning that continued attacks could worsen displacement and increase fear.
Although the community remains in uncertainty, search and rescue operations were ongoing at the time of filing this report.
