Armed attackers struck two villages in Adamawa State, Nigeria, leaving at least 25 people dead and several homes destroyed. The twin attacks happened on Tuesday evening in Kirchinga and Garaha villages, near the Sambisa Forest, a known hideout for Boko Haram and ISWAP militants, according to reports from local authorities.

In Kirchinga, 18 people were killed, while seven people, including three soldiers, lost their lives in Garaha when gunmen on over 50 motorcycles attacked a nearby military base. The attackers wore military uniforms, tricking residents into thinking they were soldiers, according to information from eyewitnesses.

Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri condemned the attacks as “cowardly acts of terrorism” and vowed to restore peace in the region, as reported by Channels TV and Punch Nigeria. The attacks highlight the ongoing insecurity in Nigeria’s northeast, a 17-year hotspot for Islamist insurgency.