The Yobe State Government has laid to rest 34 victims of a brutal attack on the Mafa community, believed to have been carried out by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, is described as the worst in the state since the Boko Haram insurgency began 14 years ago.
The burial was led by the deputy governor of Yobe State, Idi Barde-Gubana, who conducted the funeral prayers for the deceased.
During the ceremony, the deputy governor expressed deep sympathy for the victims’ families and pledged that the state government would work closely with the federal government to establish a military presence in the area to prevent future attacks.
The deputy governor also instructed the state emergency management agency to ensure that those displaced by the attack, as well as those who sustained injuries, receive proper care at camps and hospitals.
Ali Abdullahi, a physically challenged resident and eyewitness, recounted the horrific events of the attack, stating that while many were killed and several shops destroyed, he was spared because of his disability.
“It was Boko Haram that came to our community and killed several people. When they saw I have a disability, they asked me to go back. They suspect that we are the ones giving the military information to attack and kill them,” he said.
Another resident of Mafa, Zanna Umar, reported that the death toll could be as high as 125.
“Here we buried 34, but there are others who have already buried their dead, about forty in number, and the rest will be buried tomorrow,” he said.
In addition to the burial, the Yobe State Government donated N30 million to the affected families.
The deputy governor stated the government’s commitment to collaborating with security personnel to establish a military formation in the area to bolster security and prevent future tragedies.
