125 Worshippers Buried In Yobe

It was a sad day in Mafa village as hundreds of residents of Tarmuwa local government area of Yobe State gathered to bury the 125 corpses that suspected Boko Haram Members killed.

LEADERSHIP gathered that at least 125 bodies had been dumped outside the town of Mafa village following the 1 September terrorist attack on worshippers.

One of the district heads, Alhaji Alimi Kupti said, “We have now confirmed that this week’s attack on Mafa was the deadliest yet by Boko Haram, killing at least 125 people, including underage and elderly people.

He added that “We have also been able to confirm the mass burning of structures as Boko Haram unleashed a massive assault on Mafa, most of which is now destroyed”.

The corpses were conveyed from the community to Babangida, the local government’s headquarters, located about 50 kilometres from Damaturu, the state capital, by a Joint team of military, vigilante and community leaders.

Another village head of Mafa Mai Bano Lawan Kanumbu said the attack was widely condemned from within and outside the state.

He added that 47 bodies beyond recognition were buried at Mafa village, and 34 were buried at Babangida of Tarmuwa. We are still searching for more, and as of now, about 80 bodies have been recovered.

He said, according to reliable source,  over 100 people were confirmed killed by the attackers, and bodies of the deceased had been brought for burial as search for more bodies continued.

The security personnel and hunter team are still searching for more bodies and rescuing those who are alive.

LEADERSHIP gathered  that the latest attack was reportedly carried out in retaliation for the villager’s alleged involvement in providing intelligence to the military, which led to the killing of several insurgents last month.

The chief Imam of Yobe Mosque and Islamic Center, Ustaz Hudu Mohammed Yusuf, led the funeral prayer of the deceased person.

The state governor, Hon Mai Mala Buni, who was attending a security meeting in Abuja, was represented by his deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, at the funeral prayer, which took place at the palace of Mai Jajere in Babbangida.

Governor Buni condoled with the victims’ families, the people of Mafa, Tarmuwa local government area and Yobe state in general.

Buni also donated N30 million to the families of the deceased and injured persons.

He directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide food items and other relief materials to families of the victims.

He assured that the government would continue to liaise with security agencies to check the incursion of terrorists and criminals into the state.

Governor Buni called on the people to continue praying for peace in the area and the entire state.

Speaking to Leadership after his burial in his palace, the Emir of Jajere, Alhaji Mai Hamza Buba Ibn Isah Mashio, called on the state and federal government to deploy more security personnel there.

He expressed gratitude to the state government for its concern and immediate response.

The emir further appealed to the state government and well-to-do members of society to help the displaced Mafa people, who have relocated to Babbangida, by providing them with shelter and other necessities of life.