From HASSAN JIRGI Damaturu
Village Head of Mafa in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State, Lawan Mai Bano has confirmed an attack by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents in the village.
The village head, who said he could not ascertain the number of people killed as at the time of giving the information, said the attackers looted and set ablaze many houses and shops in the village.
The gunmen, he said, also dropped some fliers with Arabic inscription.
Another resident said the militants who rode on over 50 vehicles unleashed mayhem on Mafa village on Sunday evening.
“We just witnessed the death of 20 people, most of them were burnt to death. Boko Haram burnt a lot of mosques and houses with people in them,” Mohammed, a local council official told AljazirahNigeria
One of the residents who does not want his name mentioned said the attack began around 4pm and that two of his family members died after the insurgents set his home on fire.
“My mother and three of my children were burnt in the fire. I tried to save them but could not because I have to run for my life,” the eyewitness narrated.
When AljazirahNigeria contacted the police spokesman, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, he said the incident was reported to Tarmuwa Divisional Police Station by some residents of Mafa village.
“Suspected Boko Haram terrorists armed with heavy weapons and RPGs attacked Mafa ward with many motorcycles and open fire from no direction, eventually setting ablaze houses and some of the shops across the village,” the police spokesman confirmed.
The PPRO added that the insurgents killed yet-to-be identified number of people, while others fled into the bush for safety.
“The terrorists gained access to the area through a bush path behind the village,” Abdulkarim said.
