Survivors of the Boko Haram massacre at a mosque in Mafa village, Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State, have recounted their harrowing escape from death, crediting divine intervention for their survival.
Mafa is near Shekau, the ancestral home of the late Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau.
Last Sunday, Boko Haram terrorists stormed Mafa around 4 pm as worshippers were finishing their Asr prayers.
They separated the elderly and herdsmen from the congregation before opening fire on the remaining worshippers.
Sources revealed that the attack was a revenge mission, following a raid on one of the insurgents’ hideouts by security forces and local vigilantes, which resulted in the death of a Boko Haram commander and other militants terrorizing Mafa and nearby communities.
On Tuesday, Yobe State’s Deputy Governor, Idi Barde Gubana, led a delegation of government officials and religious leaders to Babbangida, the local government headquarters, where 34 bodies were buried at the General Hospital. Over 50 other bodies, badly decomposed, were given a mass burial in Mafa.
Gubana, representing Governor Mai Mala Buni, who was away on official duty, announced a donation of N30 million to the victims’ families and those injured in the attack. He also offered prayers for the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Northern Governors’ Forum, and military authorities condemned the attack, promising to send more troops to Yobe State to counter the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks.
One of the survivors, who wished to remain anonymous, described his narrow escape: “I left the mosque early and saw the insurgents. One of them shouted at me to go back, but I ran away.” He added that they counted 87 bodies after the attack, and more were discovered later, as many fled into the bush. Grateful for his survival, he mentioned he was preparing for his upcoming wedding.
Another survivor, Mallam Ali Isiaka, lost his son in the attack but expressed gratitude for his own survival. He called on security forces to protect the area, emphasizing that most residents are farmers who are preparing to harvest their crops.
Residents have since fled Mafa in fear of further attacks, leaving behind their farms and properties. They are now calling on the government and security agencies to provide protection for their community and ensure the safety of their livelihoods.
Observers noted that, although security forces have been making efforts to combat the insurgents, the community has been left vulnerable, fueling suspicions that some locals had been passing information to security forces, leading to the deadly reprisal attack.
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