Faith Nyasuguta
At least 80 people have been killed, and several others are missing following a suspected Boko Haram attack in Mafa ward, Yobe state, northeastern Nigeria.
Local officials report that around 150 militants armed with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades stormed the village on over 50 motorcycles at around 4 p.m. on Sunday, targeting villagers, shops, and homes.
Abdulkarim Dungus, a Yobe state police spokesperson, described the attack as a possible retaliation for the killing of two Boko Haram members by local vigilantes.
Bulama Jalaluddeen, another local official, confirmed that at least 81 people were killed, with 15 bodies already buried by their families before soldiers arrived for the evacuation. Additional victims from nearby villages caught in the attack were also buried by relatives before the military reached the scene. Many people remain missing, and their whereabouts are unknown.
Boko Haram has waged a violent insurgency in northeast Nigeria for over 15 years, killing more than 40,000 people and displacing millions. The conflict has spread beyond its traditional base in the northeast, with jihadist groups increasingly collaborating with criminal gangs known as “bandits” who have terrorized central and northwestern Nigeria for years, raiding villages, abducting residents, and burning homes.
These bandit groups have increasingly worked alongside Boko Haram and other jihadists to establish a growing presence in central Niger State. The collaboration between these criminal elements has led to a surge in violence and instability, creating a significant security challenge for the Nigerian government.
Despite ongoing military operations aimed at neutralizing these threats, the government’s efforts have so far been unable to contain the growing violence. The recent attack on Mafa ward highlights the persistent and evolving threat posed by Boko Haram and affiliated groups, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive strategy to address the deep-rooted insecurity in the region.
US Withdraws From Neighboring Niger Base
In June, the United States started withdrawing its troops from a Niger base dedicated to combating Boko Haram terrorists. This was confirmed in a joint statement from the defense ministries of both countries. The statement detailed the initial phase of this transition, marked by the departure of a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Air Base 101 in Niamey on June 7, 2024.
“The US Department of Defense and the Nigerien Ministry of National Defense announce that the withdrawal of US forces and assets from Niger has progressed from initial preparations to redeployment,” the statement read. It was noted that some US forces have already returned to their home bases after completing their missions.
Simultaneously, a small contingent of US military personnel arrived in Niger to facilitate the withdrawal process from Air Bases 101 and 201.
The US and Niger have agreed to complete the withdrawal of US troops by September 15. In June, there are an estimated 1,100 US personnel in Niger. The withdrawal was initiated in March after a Nigerien military spokesperson announced that the country’s transitional government, which took power in July 2023, had terminated the military agreement with the US, citing the interests of the Nigerien people.
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