MAFA VILLAGE: A TALE OF TRAGEDY, RESILIENCE AND HOPE IN YOBE STATE
September 22, 2025
By Abdulaziz Muhammad Shehu
Damaturu, Yobe State — The serene landscapes of Mafa village, nestled in the Tarmuwa Local Government Area of northeastern Nigeria, have been scarred by the brutal imprints of insurgency. On September 1, 2024, a devastating attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists shook the very foundations of this peaceful community, leaving behind a trail of death, destruction and displacement. As the sombre memories of that fateful day linger, the narrative of Mafa today is one woven with threads of pain, resilience and glimmers of hope.
The assault, reportedly a reprisal for alleged collaboration between locals and security agencies against the insurgents, claimed dozens of lives - with anonymous eyewitness accounts suggesting hundreds more - perished in the merciless violence amid chaotic scenes. The attackers, armed with rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, descended upon Mafa during evening prayers, sparking chaos and leaving shops and homes ablaze. The aftermath saw mass burials conducted by the Yobe State government in Babangida, the Tarmuwa local government headquarters, as the community grappled with immense loss.
In the wake of this harrowing attack, displacement has been a bitter reality for hundreds from Mafa. Approximately 2,390 individuals from Mafa, Bangaro, Ngoyo and Billiri communities now reside in temporary shelters in Babban Gida Town, relying on humanitarian aid for sustenance.
The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency has been extending emergency assistance including food, mattresses and dignity kits to these displaced persons. Yet, challenges persist — access to adequate healthcare remains inconsistent, livelihoods lie shattered as farming activities halt amid insecurity, and the spectre of further attacks instils perpetual fear affecting prospects of return.
Amidst this backdrop of suffering, however, beacons of hope have emerged. In a poignant display of compassion and commitment to healing, 100 orphans of the Mafa attack — victims themselves of the insurgency’s cruelty, losing parents in the violence — were enrolled into Central Primary School in Babbangida through a heartfelt “Back to School” campaign spearheaded by Comrade Usman Bulama Elwakil, Yobe State Focal Person on Youth Empowerment.
This initiative, aligning with Governor Mai Mala Buni’s educational advancement pursuits, provided the young beneficiaries with learning materials, uniforms and cash support. As these resilient children don uniforms and grasp books, their smiles sketch defiant smiles against adversity’s darkness — embodying the potency of education in fostering renewal.
Furthermore, while the wounds of September 1 linger, efforts towards addressing the plight of Mafa’s displaced continue. Local authorities alongside humanitarian organisations extend aid, though gaps remain evident. The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Yobe State Council, has also underscored the imperative of verified reporting amidst sensitivities surrounding such conflicts, decrying misinformation following erroneous reports on alleged attacks. Meanwhile, calls for enhanced security measures resonate — with advocacy for state policing emerging as a pertinent discourse in light of enduring insurgent threats hampering community stability.
Today, as Mafa’s survivors — Aisha, a mother recounting camp hardships; Alhaji Bukar, a farmer lamenting lost lands; Fatima Lawan, a teacher yearning for stable schooling for children — narrate their stories, a multifaceted plea emerges. It is a plea for:
1. Enhanced Security: Strengthening measures to curb insurgency and enable safe returns of displaced persons to their homes — safeguarding lives and restoring normalcy.
2. Sustained Humanitarian Aid: Consistent provision of food, healthcare, shelter and dignity kits to alleviate sufferings in camps, addressing vulnerabilities of the displaced.
3. Revival of Livelihoods: Supporting resuscitation of farming, trading and vocational skills to empower economic recovery and self-reliance among affected communities.
4. Uninterrupted Education: Ensuring continuous, quality schooling for children — like the noble efforts for Mafa’s orphaned pupils — nurturing hope and future potentials amid trauma.
5. Psychosocial Support: Extending counselling and mental health assistance to survivors grappling with scars of violence and displacement, aiding emotional healing.
The fulfillment of these imperatives calls for concerted efforts by government agencies, humanitarian organisations, community leaders and citizens alike. By bolstering security, sustaining aid, reviving livelihoods, promoting education and tendering psychosocial care, there lies a pathway towards mending the fractures inflicted by insurgency, and towards rekindling harmony in Mafa village.
In summation, Mafa’s narrative in Yobe State stands as a microcosm reflecting the broader travails of northeast Nigeria beset by insurgency. Yet, interwoven with accounts of tragedy are testimonies of endurance and sparks of hope — be it through schooling embraced by orphaned children, or community endeavours signalling solidarity. As the sun sets over the landscapes of Tarmuwa, the journey of Mafa underscores an enduring truth: that amid turmoil, the resilience of humanity and pursuits of education and compassion forge vital conduits towards restoration and peace.
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