Yobe Massacre Near Shekau’s Base: Survivors Recount Horrors of Boko Haram Attack That Left Over 87 Dead
Tragic Attack During Mosque Prayers
Survivors of the recent Boko Haram massacre in Mafa village, located in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State, have shared harrowing accounts of the attack, attributing their survival to divine intervention. The massacre, which took place during Asir prayers, resulted in the death of many worshippers.
Mafa is situated close to Shekau, the ancestral home of the late Boko Haram leader, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau. The attack occurred on a Sunday afternoon when insurgents raided the mosque and indiscriminately opened fire on worshippers after separating elderly individuals and herdsmen from the congregation.
Revenge Mission by Boko Haram Insurgents
According to sources, the Boko Haram insurgents were on a mission of revenge. The attack was reportedly in retaliation for an earlier raid by security operatives, vigilantes, and locals on a Boko Haram hideout, which led to the killing of a senior commander and other members of the terrorist group operating in the Mafa area. The brutal reprisal left the village in shock and mourning.
Mass Burial for Victims
In the aftermath of the attack, the Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Idi Barde Gubana, led a delegation of government officials, as well as traditional and religious leaders, to witness the burial of 34 victims at the General Hospital in Babbangida, the headquarters of the local government area. Over 50 additional bodies, severely decomposed or mutilated, were given a mass burial in Mafa, as they could not be transported to Babbangida.
Governor Mai Mala Buni, who was on an official trip abroad, was represented by the Deputy Governor. In response to the tragedy, the Yobe State government provided N30 million in financial aid to the victims and their families. Gubana expressed deep sympathy for the families of the deceased and prayed for the souls of the departed to rest in Aljannatul Firdaus, while also wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
Condemnation from Authorities
The massacre drew swift condemnation from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Northern Governors’ Forum, and military officials. They assured the public that additional troops would be deployed to Yobe State to counter the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in the region.
Survivors Share Their Experience
One survivor, who requested anonymity, recounted his narrow escape, stating that he managed to flee the mosque just before the insurgents launched their attack. “I was fortunate to come out of the mosque early. I saw them waiting, and one of them shouted for me to go back, but I ran away,” he explained. “After they left, we counted about 87 corpses, and more bodies were later recovered from the surrounding bushes as people had tried to escape.”
Expressing gratitude to Allah for his survival, the survivor noted that he had been preparing to get married next month and was thankful that he lived through the attack.
Another survivor, Mallam Ali Isiaka, who attended the mass burial, tragically lost his son in the attack. Despite his personal loss, he expressed gratitude to Allah for sparing his own life. “I thank Allah for everything. I pray for the souls of the departed, including my son, to rest in Aljannatul Firdaus,” Isiaka said. He also called on security agencies to provide greater protection for the community, as many farmers in the area were preparing to harvest their crops and had fled in fear of further attacks.
Call for Increased Security
The survivors, as well as residents of Mafa, have urged the government and security forces to enhance their presence and protect lives and property in Mafa and Tarmuwa Local Government Area. The attack has left the community deeply shaken, with many fleeing the area, abandoning their farmlands and possessions out of fear of another incident.
It was observed that while security forces had been successful in degrading Boko Haram’s activities in the area, they had not provided sufficient protection for the local population. The attack is believed to have been triggered by suspicions that some residents had been passing information about the insurgents' movements and activities to security forces, prompting the deadly retaliation.
As the community mourns its losses and recovers from this tragedy, the urgent need for enhanced security measures and government intervention is clearer than ever.
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