New Telegraph

Killings: Deputy Defense Minister, Military Chiefs Hit Sokoto

The Minister of State for Defense Bello Matawalle; Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), Gen Christopher Musa; and Chief of Defense Intelligence, Maj-Gen Emmanuel Undiandeye arrived in Sokoto yesterday alongside several senior military officers as part of efforts to check the rise in killings by terrorists in Sokoto State.

Dozens of residents have reportedly been killed by gunmen who raided several communities abducting people for ransoms. This forced President Bola Tinubu to order Matawalle and military chiefs to relocate to Sokoto to tackle the deteriorating security situation in the state, Zamfara, Katsina and Kebbi.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the minister ordered troops to intensify their efforts to flush out bandits and terrorists from the region in line with Tinubu’s directive. He commended the troops for their dedication and resilience in the face of challenging security operations and emphasized the importance of their mission in protecting life and property.

The former Zamfara State governor said: “The security of our nation is paramount, and the President has given a clear mandate that the bandits and terrorists threatening our peace must be flushed out. I am here today to reaffirm the Federal Government’s support and to urge you to remain relentless in your efforts. “Your bravery and dedication are the backbone of our national security.”

Meanwhile, suspected Boko Haram terrorists reportedly killed 34 worshippers in Mafa village, Tarmuwa LGA of Yobe, on Sunday. Zagazola Makama, a counterinsurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, said the attack occurred during Maghrib prayer, when the gunmen shot sporadically into the gathering.

“Terrorists gruesomely rigged the corpses with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), setting a deadly trap for first responders or security personnel who might approach the scene,” the report reads. Makama added that the gunmen also laid multiple explosives on the path to the village for military vehicles.

Intelligence sources told the publication that the attack was a likely retaliation for the community’s failure to pay terrorist dues. There are reports that authorities in Yobe are planning a mass burial for the victims of the attack.

Yobe government spokespersons did not immediately respond to requests for comments at the time of filing this story. On Sunday, Dungus Abdulkarim, Yobe police spokesperson, said gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents looted and set ablaze shops and houses in Mafa village, Tarmuwa LGA.

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