Crime

Gunmen Kill 34 Worshippers in Yobe Village

Published by Tope Fakinlede on September 3rd, 2024.

Gunmen Kill 34 Worshippers in Yobe Village

Bandits

On Sunday, suspected Boko Haram militants killed 34 worshippers in Mafa village, Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State. According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the attack occurred during the Maghrib prayer when the assailants opened fire on the congregation. The terrorists reportedly rigged the bodies with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to trap first responders or security personnel.

The attackers also placed explosives on roads leading to the village to target military vehicles. Intelligence sources suggest the assault was retaliation for the community’s alleged failure to meet extortion demands.

Authorities in Yobe are reportedly planning a mass burial for the victims, though government spokespersons had not responded to requests for comment at the time of this report. Yobe police spokesperson Dungus Abdulkarim also reported that the gunmen looted and burned shops and houses in Mafa, killing an unspecified number of people and leaving behind fliers with Arabic inscriptions.