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Yobe State’s Deputy Governor, Idi Barde-Gubana, presided over a poignant funeral ceremony, joined by top government officials, to mourn the loss of 34 innocent lives claimed by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in Sunday’s senseless attack.
The service offered a moment of respite from the violence, even as it highlighted the urgent need for peace and security in the region.
In a gesture of solidarity, Deputy Governor Idi Barde-Gubana expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families, vowing that the state government would collaborate closely with federal authorities to establish a robust military presence in the area, aimed at preventing such tragedies from happening again.
Deputy Governor Idi Barde-Gubana further instructed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide comprehensive support to displaced individuals and those injured in the attack, ensuring they receive adequate care and attention at designated camps and medical facilities.
Ali Abdullahi, an eyewitness to the brutal attack, shared his traumatic experience, detailing the immense human toll and destruction of property. In a surprising turn of events, his physical disability proved to be a saving grace, as the attackers chose to spare his life after discovering his condition.
“It was Boko Haram that came to our community and killed several people. When they saw I have disability, they asked me to go back. They are suspecting that we are the ones giving the military information to attack and killed them,” Abdullahi said.
Zanna Umar, a Mafa resident, said, “We gathered that there are about one hundred and twenty five people killed. Here we buried 34, there are people that carried their corpses and buried them about forty in number, and the rest, we will go and bury them tomorrow.
Deputy Governor Idi Barde-Gubana expressed his deepest sympathies to the victims and their loved ones, as the Security Adviser to Governor Mai Mala Buni provided an update on the number of casualties. He also promptly directed SEMA to address the immediate needs of displaced persons and those injured in the attack.
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After making a donation of N30 million to the affected families, he also explained the state government will collaborate with the security personnel to establish a military formation in the area.
The recent assault on Mafa community has been deemed the most devastating in the state’s history since the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency 14 years ago, surpassing previous attacks in terms of severity and impact.
