Residents of Mafa, a town in Yobe State, northeastern Nigeria, gathered on Tuesday morning, Aug. 3, for a mass burial following a brutal attack by ISWAP terrorists the previous day.

Those who survived the deadly assault said they spent the night hiding in bush paths, witnessing their homes being destroyed and torched by the armed men. By morning, they returned to a community in ruins, with bodies of those who could not escape strewn across the area, some charred by fire.

“This is the first time our community has faced such a devastating attack,” said Buba Adamu, an elder in Mafa, his voice heavy with grief. “We never imagined something like this could happen here.”

While authorities reported 34 fatalities, residents claim the actual number is much higher. “I’ve lost count of the corpses,” said a resident who identified as Bappa.

Community leader Zanna Umar explained that 34 bodies were buried in Babbangida, with over 40 more laid to rest in nearby villages and 28 in Mafa itself. Many victims remain unaccounted for.

“What they are claiming as 34 deaths was the ones brought to Babbangida town for official burial attended by the deputy governor and other traditional chiefs,” Umar said. “Many more were buried elsewhere.”

The attack unfolded on Sept. 1, as terrorists opened fire on Muslim worshippers before unleashing terror on the entire community. In a chilling move, they booby-trapped the bodies with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to target any responding security forces.

“At least four IEDs were placed along the route to the village, specifically targeting military convoys,” revealed a military source who spoke anonymously.

Multiple sources believe the attack was retaliatory, linked to the community’s refusal to continue paying levies to the militants. 

“For years, we paid under duress,” one resident told HumAngle, requesting anonymity. “We couldn’t continue this way, and now we’re paying the ultimate price.”

Idi Barde Gubana, Yobe State Deputy Governor, visited the grieving community to attend the mass burial. Before the funeral, the military briefed him on the 34 confirmed deaths. However, neither the police nor the military involved in the burial in Babbangida have provided further details on the full extent of the human and material losses in the affected community.

“If you visit Mafa today, you’ll find nothing but a flattened landscape filled with smoke, charred remnants, and ruins,” said Zanna Umar.