In a devastating attack on a village in northeast Nigeria, Boko Haram extremists have left dozens dead. The attack took place in Yobe state’s Geidam district, marking the first attack in the state in over a year.
Witnesses reported that the extremists shot and killed 17 people initially, and then used a land mine to kill another 20 individuals who had gathered to attend the burial of the initial victims.
Boko Haram, an Islamic extremist group, has been waging an insurgency in northeastern Nigeria since 2009. Their goal is to establish their radical interpretation of Islamic law, known as Sharia, in the region.
The violence perpetrated by the group has resulted in the deaths of at least 35,000 people and the displacement of over 2 million individuals, primarily in Borno state, which shares a border with Yobe.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who assumed office in May, has been unable to bring an end to the security crises plaguing the nation.
These crises extend beyond the northeast and also affect the northwest and central regions, where numerous armed groups have been targeting and killing villagers, as well as kidnapping travelers for ransom.
The initial attack occurred in the remote village of Gurokayeya in Geidam. Gunmen opened fire on villagers late Monday, resulting in the deaths of 17 individuals, according to a resident in the area.
The following day, at least 20 villagers who had gone to attend the burial of the victims drove into a land mine that exploded, killing them as well. Another resident claimed that the total number of those killed exceeded 40. The official death toll has not yet been provided by authorities.
Idris Geidam, a resident of the area, described the attack as one of the most horrific acts perpetrated by Boko Haram in recent times. He expressed shock and disbelief that a burial group could be targeted shortly after the loss of their loved ones.
The Yobe state government held an emergency security meeting in response to the attacks, attributing them to extremists who had entered the state from neighboring Borno. Security personnel have been deployed to the area, and the government is studying a report on the infiltration in order to prevent future occurrences.
