Attacks by insurgents in the North-Eastern region have taken another dimension as the terrorists now send letters notifying their victims of impending attacks, the News Agency of Nigeria reports on Monday.
An official of the Mafa Local Government Area, Borno State, Mallam Bulama Mala, told newsmen on Monday that the residents had received a letter from the terrorists, informing the residents that they would attack the town.
The terrorists made good their promise in the early hours of Monday, attacking the town and left at least 29 people dead.
“We received a letter from the attackers that they were coming since last week. So the council decided to relocate the students of Government Girls Secondary School, Mafa, to Maiduguri, the state capital, for safety,’’ Mala said.
He said that most workers in the area fled to Maiduguri when the letter was delivered to the community.
“We thought that the attackers would not come again but unfortunately they came,’’ Mala said.
Eyewitnesses told newsmen in Maiduguri that the attack took place between 4.00 and 7.00am.
One of the residents, Sheikh Modu Bukar, said the attackers invaded the area on motorbikes.
Bukar narrated, “They came on about 20 motorbikes with each carrying three persons. Some of them were carrying sophisticated guns, while others carried bombs.
“While those carrying guns fired shots at individuals, others threw bombs into houses.’’
He said 29 corpses were buried around 12. 00noon.
“Twenty nine persons were buried at the Mafa Central Mosque today; they included 28 males and one female. About 50 persons were also injured and have been evacuated to the Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri,’’ Bukar added.
He also said that “90 per cent of the buildings in the area have also been destroyed by the attackers using petrol bombs and Improvised Explosive Devise.’’
Senator Ahmed Zannah, who represents Borno Central Senatorial Zone at the senate, corroborated Mala on the attack, which he described as unfortunate.
The Borno State Police commissioner, Alhaji Lawan Tanko, confirmed the attack but said he was yet to receive the details.
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