Yobe Massacre Near Shekau’s Base: We Counted About 87 Corpses – Survivors From Boko Haram Invaders

Survivors of the Boko Haram attack and slaughter of worshippers at a mosque in Mafa village, Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State, have recounted their near-death experience, attributing their survival of the horrific assault to divine intervention.

Mafa is close to Shekau, the ancestral home of the late Boko Haram leader/founder, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, Vanguard reports.

Recall that Boko Haram terrorists raided Mafa last Sunday around 4pm when worshippers were about to conclude their Asir prayers at a mosque and opened fire on the victims, after separating elderly and herdsmen from the congregation.

Sources revealed to Sunday Vanguard that the insurgents were on a revenge mission after security operatives connived with some members of vigilantes/hunters and locals who raided one of their hideouts leading to the killing of a Commander and other Boko Haram members terrorizing Mafa and surrounding communities. 

The Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Idi Barde Gubana, led government officials as well as traditional and religious leaders on Tuesday to Babbangida, the headquarters of the local government area to witnessed the burial of 34 victims recovered and brought into General Hospital Babbangida, while over 50 decomposed or mutilated bodies were given a mass burial in Mafa, as they could not be taken to Babbangida. 

Gubana, who led the delegation on behalf of Governor Mai Mala Buni, who is outside the country on an official engagement, donated N30 million to victims and families of those who lost their lives and the injured ones. 

The Deputy Governor, while sympathizing with the families of the victims and the villagers, prayed Allah to grant Aljannatul Firdaus to the souls of the departed, and also grant quick recovery to the injured victims.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Northern Governors’ Forum and the military authorities have condemned the attack, assuring that more soldiers would be deployed to Yobe to counter renewed Boko Haram attacks. 

One of the survivors, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said he escaped by the whiskers.

“I was lucky to come out of the mosques early, I saw them (insurgents) waiting, one of them shouted that I should go back but I ran away”, he narrated. 

“We counted about 87 corpses after the terrorists left, while other bodies were recovered as people ran for their dear lives to the bush. Unfortunately no security operative was present at the scene even after the attack.

“I am very grateful to Allah (God) for sparing my life as I am preparing to get married and settle down as a family man next month.” 

Another survivor, who simply gave his name as Mallam Ali Isiaka and who attended the burial, said one of his sons was killed, but he thanked Allah (God) for saving his life. 

He called on security agencies to do the needful as most of the people in the area are farmers who will soon start harvesting their crops.

“I thank Allah for everything. I pray that the souls of the departed including my son rest in Aljannatul Firdaus”, the survivor said.

“Most of our people here are farmers and herders. It is unfortunate that after the incident, many people fled the village, leaving their farmlands and hard earned properties due to fear of another attacks.

“We are calling on government and security agencies to come to our aid and provide protection for lives and property in Mafa and the entire Tarmuwa local government area”. 

Our correspondent, however, observed that security operatives in the area had been degrading terrorists without giving adequate security cover to the community whose residents claimed that the insurgents latest deadly attack was on suspicion that some members had been giving information on the modus operandi of the insurgents to security agencies, hence the reprisal attack.