The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja has condemned the terrorist attack in Yobe State, News About Nigeria reports.
In response to the attack, Dungus Abdulkarim, Yobe police spokesperson, revealed that gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents looted and set ablaze shops and houses in Mafa village, Tarmuwa LGA, on Sunday.
Abdulkarim reported that the gunmen killed an unspecified number of people and dropped fliers with Arabic inscriptions.
Also, suspected Boko Haram terrorists launched a brutal attack on the same day, claiming the lives of 34 innocent worshippers during Magrib prayer.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the attack occurred when the gunmen shot sporadically into the gathering.
Makama said that the gunmen laid multiple explosives on the path to the village for military vehicles.
On Tuesday, the military evacuated 34 corpses from the affected community to Babbangida General Hospital, ahead of a mass burial.
Speaking at the burial, Idi Gubana, Yobe’s deputy governor, condoled with residents over the dastardly act and announced a N30 million donation to the families of the insurgent attack victims.
Gubana said that deploying sufficient troops in the Mafa community would prevent future attacks.
He also revealed that Mai Mala Buni, Yobe governor, had visited Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS), to discuss sustainable security measures.
Regarding the casualties, Dahiru Abdulsalam, special adviser on security matters to Buni, clarified that the death toll from the attack did not exceed 34, contrary to some reports.
He stated, “The figure is 34 people that were found dead, while 5 persons sustained injuries. Four are in critical conditions, while the other sustained a minor injury and is in stable condition.”
Abdulsalam dismissed any information apart from this as rumor, emphasizing that nobody had visited Mafa except the troops who brought the bodies.
He also noted that the insurgents target innocent civilians, who are soft targets.
The Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on the villagers.
A letter penned in Arabic revealed the group’s motive, citing the village’s alleged military ties as justification.
Reacting to the attack, the Saudi Arabian embassy denounced the brutal terrorist act in a post on its X page.
The embassy reiterated the Kingdom’s complete rejection of violence, terrorism, and extremism, and expressed sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased and the government and people of Nigeria
