Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least 100 villagers in northeastern Nigeria’s Yobe state on Sunday, residents reported Wednesday. The attack, one of the deadliest in the region this year, occurred in the Tarmuwa council area.
Yobe police spokesperson Dungus Abdulkarim said more than 50 extremists on motorcycles rode into the area Sunday evening, opening fire on a market, worshippers, and people in their homes before setting buildings ablaze.
While Yobe Deputy Governor Idi Barde Gubana cited a death toll of 34, community leader Zanna Umar reported that 102 villagers have been confirmed dead. Umar explained that many victims were buried before officials arrived or their bodies were taken elsewhere for burial.
“We are still working to search for more because many people are still missing,” Umar said.
The attack is believed to be a reprisal for villagers informing security operatives about Boko Haram activities, according to local media reports. The extremists claimed responsibility, stating that some of their members were killed due to information provided by villagers.
Buba Adamu, a local chief, expressed shock at the scale of the attack. “This is the first time our community has faced such a devastating attack,” he said. “We never imagined something like this could happen here.”
The incident highlights the ongoing security crisis in northeastern Nigeria, where Boko Haram has waged an insurgency since 2009 to establish its interpretation of Islamic law. The conflict has resulted in at least 35,000 direct deaths and displaced over 2 million people.
According to the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), at least 1,500 people have been killed in the region this year due to attacks by armed groups.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the attack in a statement, promising justice for the victims. However, security analysts have criticized Tinubu’s policies, noting a lack of bold steps to address the ongoing violence and persistent issues such as inadequate resources and manpower.
Confidence MacHarry of SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based security firm, noted that reprisals are common in the northeast, with villagers often facing consequences after military operations. He added that some areas remain outside the control of the Nigerian army, leaving villagers vulnerable to attacks.
The Yobe attack underscores the complex security challenges facing Nigeria and the broader Sahel region as governments struggle to contain extremist violence.
AP
