At least 81 people have been killed and many others are missing following an attack by suspected Boko Haram militants in Nigeria’s northeastern Yobe State, local officials reported on Tuesday.
The attack occurred on Sunday around 4:00 p.m. when approximately 150 suspected Boko Haram terrorists, armed with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, stormed Mafa ward on over 50 motorcycles, according to Yobe state police spokesperson Abdulkarim Dungus.
“They killed many people and burned numerous shops and houses. The exact number of casualties is still unknown,” Dungus said, indicating that the assault appeared to be in retaliation for the killing of two Boko Haram members by local vigilantes.
Bulama Jalaluddeen, a local official, confirmed the death toll, noting that 15 bodies had been buried by their families before soldiers arrived for the evacuation of remaining corpses.
“Additionally, several victims from nearby villages, caught in the attack, were buried by their relatives before the soldiers could reach the scene,” he added. “Many people are still missing, and their whereabouts are unknown.”
Boko Haram and other extremist groups have waged a 15-year insurgency in northeastern Nigeria, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 people. Meanwhile, gangs known as “bandits” continue to wreak havoc in central and northwestern Nigeria, often in collaboration with militant groups that are expanding their presence in central regions like Niger State
