By Sabiu Abdullahi
The remains of 37 villagers killed by Boko Haram insurgents have been evacuated from Mafa, a town in Tamuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State.
According to a source, the attack was likely a reprisal for residents providing intelligence to the military in July, leading to a successful operation against the insurgents.
Yobe State Police Command spokesman, Dungus Abdulkarim, confirmed the attack, stating, “We cannot yet confirm the exact number of casualties, but the attack occurred around 4pm in Mafa. The insurgents arrived on over 50 motorcycles, setting shops and houses on fire and killing several people. They also left behind some fliers with Arabic inscriptions.”
Special Adviser to the Yobe State Governor on Security Matters, Brigadier-General Dahiru Abdulsalam (retd), also confirmed the attack, noting that military personnel had been deployed to the area and normalcy had been restored.
Mafa village is located near Shekau village, the hometown of the late Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.