Suspected Boko Haram Islamist militants carried out a brutal attack on a market in Mafa ward, Yobe state, northeastern Nigeria, on Sunday afternoon. The militants, estimated to be around 150, arrived on motorcycles armed with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. They opened fire on the market, setting shops and homes ablaze, and then chased fleeing residents into the bush, where they continued their deadly assault.
Local officials confirmed at least 81 people were killed, but residents believe the death toll could be much higher as many villagers remain missing. The attack is believed to be retaliation for the killing of two suspected Boko Haram fighters by local vigilantes.
The attack is the latest in a long series of violence perpetrated by Boko Haram in the region. The insurgency, which began in 2009, has claimed the lives of thousands of Nigerians and displaced over 2 million. Yobe state, along with Borno and Adamawa, is at the frontline of the insurgency.
Following the attack, military officials traveled to Mafa on Monday and recovered 37 bodies. They also discovered explosives planted along the road leading to the village, which they successfully defused.
The attack underscores the ongoing threat posed by Boko Haram, despite efforts by the Nigerian military to combat the insurgency. The group’s tactics have become increasingly brutal, with civilians often bearing the brunt of their violence.
