- The Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on the villagers.
- A letter penned in Arabic revealed the group’s motive, citing the village’s alleged military ties as justification.
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja has condemned the terrorist attack in Yobe state
On Sunday, Dungus Abdulkarim, Yobe police spokesperson, said gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents looted and set ablaze shops and houses in Mafa village, Tarmuwa LGA.
Abdulkarim said the gunmen killed an unspecified number of people, adding that they also dropped some fliers with Arabic inscriptions.
Also on Sunday, suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched a brutal attack, claiming the lives of 34 innocent worshippers.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, had said the attack occurred during Magrib prayer, when the gunmen shot sporadically into the gathering.
Makama had also said that the gunmen also laid multiple explosives on the path to the village for military vehicles.
On Tuesday, the military evacuated 34 corpses from the affected community to Babbangida general hospital, ahead of a mass burial, while decomposed bodies were interred at the scene.
Speaking at the burial, Idi Gubana, Yobe’s deputy governor, condoled with residents over the dastardly act, then announced a N30 million donation to the families of the insurgent attack victims.
Gubana said deployment of sufficient troops in the Mafa community would prevent future attacks, adding that Mai Mala Buni, Yobe governor, has visited Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS),to discuss sustainable security measures.
Speaking on the casualties, Dahiru Abdulsalam, special adviser on security matters to Buni, clarified that the death toll from the attack did not exceed 34, contrary to some reports.
“The figure is 34 people that were found dead, while 5 persons sustained injuries. Four are in critical conditions, while the other, sustained a minor injury and he is in stable condition,” NAN quoted Abdulsalam as saying.
“Any information apart from this is just a rumour. Nobody has gone to Mafa yesterday other than the troops, who brought these bodies. The insurgents are not confronting the military; they are confronting innocent civilians who are soft targets.”
According to Daily Trust, the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on the villagers.
A letter penned in Arabic revealed the group’s motive, citing the village’s alleged military ties as justification.
Reacting to the attack, the Saudi Arabia embassy denounced the brutal terrorist act in a post on its X page.
“The Embassy expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s condemnation and denunciation of the treacherous terrorist attack that took place in Yobe State, northeastern Nigeria, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries,” the post reads.
“The Embassy reiterates the Kingdom’s complete rejection of violence, terrorism, and extremism. The Kingdom also expresses its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased and the government and people of Nigeria.”