Tinubu condemns Yobe attack as cowardly, vows to bring perpetrators to justice

Tinubu assured Yobe residents that the perpetrators of the horrific act, which left dozens dead, would be brought to justice.

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday condemned Sunday’s attack on Mafa, in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of ​​Yobe State, as heinous and cowardly.

Tinubu assured the people of the state that the perpetrators of the heinous act, which claimed the lives of many, would be brought to justice.

The President, in a press release issued by his media adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, expressed his condolences to the government and people of Yobe State over the tragic incident.

Tinubu also expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and condemned the killings as an act of terror by a degraded group of criminals. He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and speedy recovery of the injured.

Dozens of people were killed on Sunday afternoon when suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked a village in the state, setting fire to shops and houses.

Dungus Abdulkarim, Yobe State police spokesman, said: “About 150 suspected Boko Haram terrorists armed with guns and RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) attacked Mafa area on more than 50 motorcycles.”

Abdulkarim said: “They killed many people and set fire to many shops and houses. We have yet to determine how many people were actually killed in the attack.”

Abdulkarim also said the attack was in retaliation for the killing of two suspected Boko Haram fighters by local vigilantes.

Yobe is one of three states at the centre of a 15-year insurgency by Boko Haram and other radical groups that has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than two million.

The armed groups had strengthened their position by collaborating with gangs of criminals known as “bandits,” who raid villages, kill and kidnap residents, and set fire to homes after looting them.

Officials said efforts were still underway to confirm the number of deaths in Mafa.

Bulama Jalaluddeen, a resident of the area, said: “It has been established that at least 81 people were killed in the attack.”

Jalaluddeen said: “Fifteen bodies had already been buried by their relatives when the soldiers reached Mafa for evacuation of the bodies. In addition, a number of unidentified dead from nearby villages, which were involved in the attack, were taken and buried by their relatives before the soldiers arrived. Many people are still missing and their whereabouts are unknown.”

A military official who accompanied the Yobe army commander to Mafa on Monday evening said the road to the village was riddled with explosives, which the troops managed to defuse.

“We have recovered 37 bodies and taken them to Babangida General Hospital,” the official told Reuters news agency, declining to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Modu Mohammed, who lives in Mafa, said more residents were missing and put the death toll at more than 100. He said bodies were still in the bushes.

Another source said that about 34 of the dead were given a mass burial on Tuesday. The victims were buried in Babangida, the headquarters of Tarmuwa Local Government of Yobe State.

Although villagers said more than 100 people had been killed, the state government said the number of victims was 34. The bodies were found during a search and rescue operation led by the Nigerian military and supported by local vigilantes.

According to villagers, 86 bodies were found in surrounding communities of Mafa village after the terrorist attack.

The bodies were prepared for burial by volunteers of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Babangida Division, under the supervision of the Divisional Secretary, Garba Bulama Kachallah.

Yobe State Deputy Governor Idi Gubana led a delegation from the state government that visited the community. He donated 30 million naira to the families of the victims and reiterated that the number of victims was 34.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the attack on Yobe State, saying the latest incident is a “terrible reminder that government-backed communities still have a lot of work to do to contain the terrorist menace”.

In a message to Yobe State Governor Mai Mala, the Council of Chiefs of Yobe State and the entire people of the state, Buhari prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims and called for stern action against those who committed these “monstrous acts”.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubukar accused the federal government of insensitivity to Mafa’s plight.

Atiku wrote on his X account: “Despite the tragic bloodshed in Yobe, which has claimed dozens of lives, and the rampant destruction in scores of villages in Katsina, Sokoto and other towns in the North-West and North-Central regions, the government appears to remain aloof and engrossed in trivial matters.

“The unrest also extends to the south, where the unrest caused by Boko Haram and disturbing political discord threaten the peace in the country.

“Amid these serious challenges, the federal government is engaged in suppressing dissent and resorting to draconian measures such as imposing death sentences on protesters.

“The atrocities in Yobe are clear evidence of the failure of the current security framework, which requires immediate and comprehensive reforms.

“My condolences go out to the victims of these heinous attacks and I fervently implore the Tinubu government to show greater commitment to protecting lives and property across the country.”

Muhammadu Yahaya, Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Gombe State, in a press release described the attack as a senseless act of violence that has caused immense grief to the affected families and communities.

Yahaya praised the security forces for their efforts against the remnants of criminal groups, but stressed the need for more intensive efforts to track down and arrest those responsible for the attack.

“This brutal act must not go unpunished. I call on security services to redouble their efforts and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice swiftly,” Yahaya said.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the northern governors to support efforts aimed at restoring peace and security in the region, stressing the importance of collective action to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

The governor expressed his condolences to the families and the government of Yobe State during the forum. He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Ismaila Misilli, Director General of Press Affairs at Gombe Government House, signed the statement.

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum expressed his condolences to Buni, the victims and their families.

Zulum, whose statement was signed by his Special Assistant on New Media, Abdulrahman Bundi, condemned the attack and called on everyone to unite in the fight against insecurity in the North-East.

He said: “In times like these, we must come together as a community to support each other. My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones and to those affected by this senseless act of violence. If we come together, in sha Allah, we will overcome this challenge.

“I pray to Almighty Allah to accept the souls of those who lost their lives and prevent such tragic incidents from happening again in the future.”

Zulum, who is also the chairman of the North East Governors Forum, expressed sadness that such an attack took place when the region was virtually at peace.

He assured that governments in the north-eastern zone would not be deterred and would work with the security services to restore normalcy.

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode, John Shiklam and Seriki Adinoyi

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