In a devastating attack on Sunday, suspected Boko Haram militants launched a brutal assault on Mafa ward in Yobe State, northeastern Nigeria, killing dozens of people and setting fire to homes and shops.
According to local police spokesman Dungus Abdulkarim, around 150 militants armed with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades descended on the village, arriving on more than 50 motorcycles.
“They killed many people and burned many shops and houses. We are yet to ascertain the actual number of those killed in the attack,” Abdulkarim stated.
The attack is believed to be in retaliation for the killing of two suspected Boko Haram fighters by local vigilantes, who have been active in the region trying to protect their communities from the ongoing insurgency.
Yobe State is one of the hardest-hit areas by the 15-year insurgency led by Boko Haram and other extremist groups, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over two million people.
The armed groups have increasingly aligned themselves with criminal gangs known as “bandits,” who terrorize villages through raids, killings, abductions, and the destruction of property.
Initial reports suggest the death toll from the attack could be as high as 81, with many more residents still unaccounted for.
Bulama Jalaluddeen, a local official, confirmed that “at least 81 people were killed in the attack,” noting that some victims had already been buried by the time military forces arrived to evacuate the corpses.
In addition to those killed, a significant number of residents are still missing, with fears that the actual death toll could exceed 100.
Modu Mohammed, a resident of Mafa, reported that several bodies remained in the bush and estimated that the total number of fatalities could be higher than currently reported.
A military official involved in the operation to secure the area revealed that the route to Mafa had been rigged with explosives, which the troops successfully defused.
“We recovered 37 corpses and brought them to Babangida General Hospital,” the official told Reuters.
The attack in Mafa is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by Boko Haram and affiliated groups in northeastern Nigeria, as communities continue to endure the devastating impact of the prolonged insurgency.
Recall that a high-level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting convened in Abuja recently, drew attention to the urgent need for integrated security strategies to combat the rising menace of terrorism across the continent.
Hosted under the theme ‘Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Institution Building to Address the Evolving Threat of Terrorism in Africa,’ the gathering brought together key stakeholders, including top officials and leaders from various African nations.
During the meeting, National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, emphasized the gravity of the terrorism challenge facing Africa, citing a 22% increase in terrorism-related deaths across 41 countries in 2023.
