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Mafa Massacre: 37 Bodies Prepared for Burial in Yobe |
In the aftermath of the brutal attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Mafa village in Tarmuwa local government area of Yobe state, 37 of the 87 recovered bodies are set for burial on Tuesday morning, according to sources.
Mafa village is located near Shekau, the ancestral home of the late Boko Haram leader, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau.
The Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Idi Barde Gubana, will attend the burial on behalf of the state governor, Mai Mala Buni, who is currently abroad on official business.
A security source reported that the 37 bodies are being kept at Babbangida General Hospital, with the burial scheduled for 10 am at the Emir’s palace in Tarmuwa town.
The attack occurred last Sunday around 4 pm, as worshippers were concluding their Asir prayers at a mosque. The terrorists separated the elderly and herdsmen from the congregation before opening fire.
One survivor, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted his narrow escape:
"I was fortunate to leave the mosque early. I saw the insurgents waiting, and one of them shouted for me to go back, but I ran away."
"We counted about 87 bodies after the terrorists left. Unfortunately, no security operatives were present at the scene even after the attack."
"Of the 37 recovered bodies, the remaining 50 decomposed bodies are still in Mafa for a mass burial today," he added.
Our correspondent noted that while security forces have been targeting terrorists in the area, they have not provided adequate protection for the community. The latest attack is believed to be a reprisal, as some community members were suspected of providing intelligence on the insurgents' activities to security agencies.
