In a brutal attack on Sunday, suspected Boko Haram insurgents unleashed terror in Mafa village, Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State, looting and setting ablaze homes and shops, leaving a trail of devastation. The attack, which took place around 4 p.m., has left many feared dead, though the exact number of casualties is yet to be confirmed.
The Yobe State Police Command, through its spokesperson DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday. “We are yet to ascertain the number of lives lost in the incident,” Abdulkarim said, underscoring the difficulty in assessing the full scale of the tragedy due to the remote location of the village.
According to eyewitness reports, the suspected Boko Haram terrorists arrived in Mafa on more than 50 motorcycles, heavily armed with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). The attackers proceeded to loot and burn down several houses and shops, leaving residents in a state of fear and chaos. Babagana Goni and Bako Ibrahim, both residents of the village, reported the horrifying incident to the Tarmuwa Divisional Police Station.
While the exact number of those killed remains unclear, the scale of the attack suggests significant loss of life. “The terrorists also killed many people, but we are yet to ascertain the actual number of the casualties,” Abdulkarim added. The attackers reportedly left behind fliers with Arabic inscriptions, a chilling reminder of their presence and intentions.
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This attack comes just days after a similar incident in the neighbouring town of Geidam, where terrorists targeted a private school, killing three students and injuring another. The surge in attacks has heightened fears across Yobe State, with communities on high alert as Boko Haram continues its reign of terror.
As the region grapples with the aftermath of these attacks, there is an urgent call for enhanced security measures to protect vulnerable communities from further assaults. The Yobe State Police Command and other security agencies are under pressure to intensify efforts to track down the perpetrators and prevent future attacks.
This latest act of violence highlights the ongoing security challenges in Yobe State and the broader North-East region, where insurgent groups like Boko Haram continue to wreak havoc. The need for coordinated security responses and community vigilance has never been more critical.
