In the aftermath of a deadly assault on Mafa village in Yobe State, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has announced the deployment of additional soldiers to bolster security in the region. The attack, which occurred on Sunday in Tarmuwa Local Government Area, claimed the lives of at least 34 villagers, with insurgents setting homes ablaze.
General Musa made the pledge after meeting with Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni in Abuja. The governor sought urgent military support following the massacre, which has drawn widespread condemnation. The Northern States Governors’ Forum, alongside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Nigeria, expressed outrage, calling for swift justice.
The victims, whose bodies were recovered from the surrounding bushland, were buried on Tuesday. Yobe State Deputy Governor Idi Gubana led a government delegation to Mafa in a display of solidarity and mourning. The attack has heightened concerns over escalating terrorist incursions into border communities, prompting Governor Buni to emphasise the need for immediate action.
“Three days ago, terrorists attacked Mafa, a border village with Borno State. A few days earlier, Geidam, another border community near Niger Republic, was similarly struck. These attacks are a grave concern, and I have discussed extensively with the CDS to find lasting solutions,” Buni stated. He expressed satisfaction with the military’s commitment to deploying more troops and introducing new strategies to curb the threat.
General Musa echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the military and local communities to thwart further insurgent attacks. “We will deploy additional personnel and implement fresh strategies to neutralise these criminal elements,” Musa assured.
The attack has drawn national and international attention. The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe, condemned the violence, urging security forces to ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice. “This brutal act must not go unpunished,” he declared.
Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Nigeria also voiced its condemnation, labelling the attack as “treacherous” in a statement on social media. The Kingdom reaffirmed its firm stance against terrorism and offered condolences to the families of the victims and the Nigerian people.
Eyewitness accounts from the scene described how more than 50 militants, riding motorcycles, stormed the village in a coordinated attack. While official reports confirmed 34 casualties, local sources fear the death toll could be far higher. The insurgents left behind flyers with Arabic inscriptions, according to police reports.
The victims were laid to rest in a mass burial in Babangida, the Tarmuwa Local Government Area’s headquarters, following a search-and-rescue operation led by the Nigerian Army and local vigilante groups.
