Double whammy
At least 37 people were killed in Yobe State’s Mafa village after suspected Boko Haram fighters attacked, setting fire to homes and shops…
At least 37 people were killed in Yobe State’s Mafa village after suspected Boko Haram fighters attacked, setting fire to homes and shops. The attack was reportedly in retaliation for local vigilantes killing two suspected Boko Haram members. Villagers fear the death toll may be higher, as some residents are still missing after being chased into the bush. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army confirmed that its personnel had not received their August salaries and allowances, urging soldiers to remain patient as efforts to resolve the payment delay are underway under the Bola Tinubu administration.
Yobe is a state located in Northeastern Nigeria, carved out of Borno State. Borno borders it to its east for about 421 km and Gombe to its southwest for 93 km. Yobe’s Northern border forms part of the national border with Niger for about 223 km, mostly across the Komadougou — Yobe River. These linked borders make it a hotbed for terrorism and banditry operations. The security situation in Yobe remains unpredictable and volatile, with a history of Boko Haram attacks and clashes with government forces. Inter-communal clashes have also led to displacement and casualties, alongside instances of flooding that have devastated homes and facilities. Boko Haram has carried out numerous attacks in Yobe over the years, often employing similar tactics. Some notable past attacks include the 2018 Dapchi schoolgirls kidnapping, where 110 girls were abducted; the 2014 Buni Yadi attack, which claimed the lives of 59 students; and the 2013 Gujba college massacre, in which 40 students were killed. Other incidents include attacks on Damaturu, Geidam, Kanamma, and Babangida, reflecting the persistent threat of Boko Haram in the region. The persistence of such attacks in 2024 shows the enduring nature of the security challenges facing Nigeria. Conservative estimates suggest that over 35,000 people have been killed directly by insurgent violence since 2011. More comprehensive assessments, factoring in deaths from conflict-induced famine and lack of medical care, put the toll at a staggering 350,000 lives lost since 2009. Aside from these frequent attacks, late or poor remuneration in Nigeria’s security services is another pressing issue. It affects primarily the Nigeria Police Force. For the military, however, delayed wages would not have raised eyebrows if not for the fact that it is involved in multiple counterterrorism operations across the country, by which it has also suffered significant losses in personnel, manpower and resources. This has led to the imperative to complement these shortfalls using citizen militias such as vigilantes who were responsible for the attack on ISWAP, thus bringing about last weekend’s massacre in Mafa, Yobe. The frequency by which these kinds of vengeful mass killings happen shows, among other things, a pattern of collective punishment that is a feature of both the military and insurgents’ response mechanisms to setbacks. Both Boko Haram factions and bandits in the North often target civilians, accusing them of collaborating with the government or military. This tactic, aimed at instilling fear and deterring cooperation, has increased displacement. The aftermath of such attacks raises several issues. Firstly, the government tends to downplay casualty figures, with official reports of a recent massacre capping the toll at 37, while on-the-ground estimates suggest over 150 deaths. This minimisation erodes trust in the government. Additionally, while the government has invested in alternative intelligence technology, its deployment has not significantly improved security. This underscores the need for community-driven intelligence operations, which are hindered when communities aligning with the government face violent retribution.