Suspected Boko Haram terrorists, who have been holding Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states to ransom yesterday invaded Mafa, the headquarters of Mafa local government area of Borno State, killing over 36 residents before setting ablaze many residential and public buildings.

This fresh incident is happening barely 24 hours after another set of terrorists laid ambush on Mainok village on Saturday night killing over 40 residents with the sacking of the whole community after destroying property worth millions of naira.

On the same day, some suspected terrorists detonated twin bombs at a densely populated area of Ajilari, Gomari Airport general area of Maiduguri Metropolis killing over 70 civilians, mostly football fans watching a live match in a nearby viewing centre.

Within the last one week, more than 300 people were killed while property worth billions of naira were destroyed in separate attacks in Borno.

It was gathered that the gunmen invaded the town on Sunday night where they had a field day after overpowering the security operatives on guard and wrecked havoc on innocent civilians.

Mafa is about 40 kilometres drive from Maiduguri metropolis located East on the Maiduguri Gambouru Ngala, a boarder community with Chad and Cameroon Republic.

Prior to the attack, there were reports last week that some gunmen were sighted close to Mafa, which forced many residents to relocate to Maiduguri and settled with their relatives. When the gunmen eventually invaded the community,  only few courageous residents were still around with security operatives, and after the clash, there were casualties on all the sides including the security operatives, innocent civilians and the terrorists.

According to sources, the gunmen came into Mafa town at about midnight using Hilux Toyota vans armed with AK47 rifles, Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s), Rocket Propelled Launchers,  petrol bombs and opened fire on residents who were asleep.

Over 80% of the structures in Mafa properties were destroyed during the clash including schools, residential houses, shops, vehicles, motorcycles, and telecommunication masts, the source added.

A resident, Mallam Aji Modu Usman who attended the mass burial of the victims on Monday morning in Mafa said, “ we have so far buried 32 dead bodies this morning in Mafa according to Islamic rites. Among the dead was an old woman while others are men, but we are still recovering more dead bodies in and around Mafa bushes because we suspected some of those who attempted to flee the attackers  were however gunned down”, he concluded.