The early morning suicide bombing of a mosque in Mubi, Adamawa state, that claimed at least 50 lives, was the biggest terrorists’ attack in Adamawa since December 2016, when two female suicide bombers killed 45 people at a crowded market in Madagali town. IBRAHIM ABDUL’ AZIZ writes
Before now, there was relatively peace even communities that were worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgency, had to celebrate their liberation from the insurgency which they had contended with over the years.
However with peace and normalcy restored and the residents are striving to pick pieces of their lives once again, double tragedies struck, throwing the entire state into mourning and now, the people live in atmosphere of agony and despair.
Madina Mosque
Tuesday, November 21, to be precise, was a ‘black day’ to many if not all residents; because it was the day when at least, 50 worshippers were killed in a suicide bomb attack at Madina Mosque in Dazala area of Mubi town in.
According to eyewitnesses, the suspected teenage suicide bomber carried out the dastardly attack about 5a.m during the Muslim early morning prayers in the Unguwar Shuwa area of Mubi, 125 miles from Yola, Adamawa State capital.
It was the biggest attack in Adamawa State, since December 2016, when two female suicide bombers killed 45 people at a crowded market in Madagali town.
Eyewitness
A local resident, Muhammadu Bello who narrowly escaped the attack, as he was equally rushing to meet up the two raka’at prayers, recalls that, “My house is close to the mosque. I was almost late for the prayers and as I was rushing, I saw two supposed worshippers rushing to enter the mosque, though there was some gap between me and them. Moment the duo entered the mosque there was a loud bang” Bello said.
“The bombers waited until mosque is filled to capacity before they struck”, he added.
“Moments after the blast, the prayer were short- lived as the worshippers scampered for their safety, even as I watched from a close range”.
Bello, there and then ran back into his house to evacuate his family to another part of the city for safety, saying, “Because the magnitude of the attack and the loss of human lives were so devastating. ‘’
Also corroborating, another distraught resident, Suleiman Abubakar, who lives near the mosque, said he had just returned home from a nearby mosque when he heard the blast.
“I was there when the rescue went on and 40 people died on the spot and several others were taken to hospital with severe and life-threatening injuries,” he recalls.
Detonated explosives
“As you can see, the roof was blown off, the prayer was mid-way when the bomber, who was obviously in the congregation, detonated his explosives.
“This is obviously the work of Boko Haram.
‘’ It’s really tragic, people are now living in atmosphere of despair and uncertainty,’’ said he.
Boko Haram seizes Mubi
It could be recalled that, Boko Haram overran Mubi, in late 2014, as its fighters rampaged across northeastern Nigeria, seizing towns and villages in its quest to establish what it calls a hardline Islamic state.
The town’s name was changed temporarily to Madinatul Islam, or “City of Islam” in Arabic, during the Boko Haram occupation.
Mubi liberated
But it has been peaceful since the military and the civilian militia ousted them from the town, which is a commercial hub and home to the Adamawa State University.
In recent months, Boko Haram activities have been concentrated on the far north of Adamawa state, around Madagali, which is near the border with neighbouring Borno state.
Earlier this month, at least, two civilians were killed when dozens of Boko Haram fighters tried to storm the town of Gulak but were repelled by soldiers.
Nonetheless, there have been repeated suicide bombings in the area, which lies not far from the Sambisa Forest area of Borno, where the militants had a base.
Boko Haram fighters are also said to be hiding in the Mandara Mountains, to the east of Adamawa state, which forms the border with neighbouring Cameroon.
It’s wickedness – Bindow
Reacting to the blast, in his home town, the state Governor, Senator Muhammadu Umar Jibrilla Bindow, described it as unfortunate. Speaking to newsmen the governor, said the attack was an act of wickedness perpetrated by criminals who were bent on destroying the hard earned peace in Mubi and other parts of the state.
“We will continue to ensure that our people are protected and given a sense of security which is the most important responsibility of any government.
“We have also engaged all security agencies to ensure that this type of wicked act does not repeat itself in any part of the state.
“We call for calm as security has been stepped up in Mubi and environs and we will not rest until those behind this wicked act are brought to book, and may the souls of the departed receive mercy of God.”
Bindow who visited the town called for calm from all residents of Mubi and urged the people to come forward with any information that will help security agencies apprehend the culprits.
“It is unfortunate that people will be killed in cold blood in the place of worship. Adamawa is in mourning and my heart bleeds. Those injured in the incident will be given adequate medical attention,’’ the governor said.
Recuperating victims
Although many victims were admitted at various hospitals in Mubi, some others were rushed to Yola, the state capital, spurred by their conditions for emergency.
“Those in critical conditions were hurriedly rushed to FMC and Yola Specialist Hospital in the state capital,’’ said Bashir Idris Garga , NEMA’s north East Coordinator.
While commiserating with the victims at both Yola Specialist Hospital as well as Federal Medical Centre Yola , Gov Bindow, announced that the government will foot the medical bills, saying, “ the government will shoulder the medical bills of all affected”.
In his words: “We will continue to ensure that our people are protected and given a sense of security which is the most important responsibility of any government, we have also engaged all security agencies to ensure that this type of wicked act does not repeat itself in any part of the state’’.
Speaking earlier, the Chief Medical Director of FMC, Prof. Awwal Mohammad, said that 16 victims of Mubi attack were received by the Centre and those with serious injuries were operated upon adding that their condition was stable.
‘’Our staff are working assiduously and they are responding to treatment,’’ he assured.
The untold militia attack
While dozens were killed in Mubi, early same day , another tragedy occurred in southern part of the state when Bachama Militias pounced on Fulani settlements in Numan local government area, which led to the dead of 55 people, mostly women and children including 150 cattle .
In what could be seen as a reprisal attack against farms encroachment, the militias singing war songs had on Monday’s evening allegedly launched sporadic attacks at Fulani settlements in Shafaran, Shawal, Gumara, Kikam and Kadamti villages. The attacked villages included Bachama, predominantly among others.
Said an affected fleeing resident Mr Oriwa Hammadu, “the militia members chanting war songs had on Monday evening launched sporadic attacks on Fulani settlements in Shafaran, Shawal, Gumara, Kikam and Kadamti villages of Numan local government area”.
‘’They attacks came when all the men were out of the areas. Many had gone to market and a wedding ceremony in Mayo-Belwa, so it took us by surprise.
‘’I was on my way back from Numan town market when I saw smokes billowing from our settlements, and minutes later I saw some Bachama Militias numbering about 150 coming to our settlements.
‘’So, I had to sneak to save my life. But they killed our children, women and burnt houses.
‘’They came with dangerous weapons chanting war songs in Bachama dialect, with machetes, daggers and Dane guns.
‘’Both the injured and the corpses were evacuated to Numan General hospital,’’ distraught Hammadu laments.
Also corroborating a truck driver Mr Emmanuel Nwachuku who plies Numan-Jalingo Road said, ‘’ the attackers singing Bachama songs came in dozens, we saw them while crossing to Dong Road, thank God we escaped by whiskers, before they launched the attack.’’
Miyetti Allah
The North East chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Mafindi Umaru Danburam, said at least, 45 women and children were killed by the attackers who came in the wee hours of Monday, as casualty figures continued to rise.
‘’First, we observed the funeral rites of 45 bodies of women and children here in Numan. We are still searching for the remaining missing people and the number has risen to 55.
‘’We want government to as matter of urgency swing into action by investigating those involved so as to avoid a reprisal.”
Mr. Danburam alleged that the attackers were Bachama youth in the area who had been threatening the herdsmen to vacate the area.
‘’In the build up to this attacks, the district head of Numan had earlier summoned Fulani leaders and ordered them to leave their domains. He even threatened that there will be attacks.
‘’And all pleads by the Fulani were to no avail,’’ he said.
Govt’s reactions
Three hours later the state Deputy Governor, Mr Martins Babale visited the area where he called for calm.
Babale who condemned the incident said government would do all it can to fish out the culprits and the following day, Governor Bindow summoned all traditional rulers for crucial meeting held at Government House, Yola.
Governor Bindow, while briefing newsmen shortly after the said meeting, announced that Administrative Panel of inquiry will be set up and revealed that the police have made some arrests in connection with the killings.
He emphasized that peaceful coexistence among communities was non-negotiable and gave the assurance that “government is on top of the situation to consolidate on the conviviality being enjoyed in that local government in the last two years.”
Chairman, Adamawa State Council of Traditional Rulers, Lamido of Adamawa, Barkindo Musdapha, who is also the leader of Tapital Pulaku worldwide, called for calm on the part of parties involved in the crisis.
He however said there are existing cattle routes from Toungo to Mayo Belwa, which have been encroached overtime by farmers and called for respect for one another and constituted authority.
In his short remark, Hama Bachama, Homun Stephen (Kwire Mana, Kpafrato 2-Gbulum Bomo), said all Nigerians have the constitutional right to live in any part of the country of their choice.
He said, “it is very unfortunate that the security breach has led to loss of lives”.
The monarch urged the panel to dig deep in fishing out the culprits, in addition to finding a lasting solution to communal clashes in the area. The security meeting had in attendance first class traditional rulers and security chiefs in the state.
Reactions trail attacks
Already reactions have been trailing the attack with the Adamawa State Chapter of Muslim Council calling for immediate setting up of a Judicial Panel of Inquiry as against the Administrative Panel of inquiry announced by the state government to investigate the Monday attack.
During a World Press Conference in Yola, its chairman, Abubakar Sahabo, said 26 victims were now receiving treatment in hospital.
The council said the incident needed to be investigated and perpetrators of the carnage who also looted properties including foodstuffs brought to justice.
It also called among others, for the treatment, compensation of victims and the disbandment of the various vigilante groups in Numan area, which it alleged were being used to terrorize Fulani Muslims in the area.
“The council noted with the greatest shock the unprovoked killings of innocent Fulani Muslims by extremist Bachama Militia in Kikan, Kwadomti, Shafaran and Kerwul villages in Numan Local Government Area.
“The killings which can best be described as ethnic cleansing resulted in the dead of 55 innocent Muslim Fulani who were gruesomely murdered by matcheting, gun shots and burning of some to ashes.
“Among those killed were six women, one man and 48 children, whose age ranges from one to nine years, including a three-day old child. Upto now several women and children are still missing, while more bodies are being discovered,” Sahabo said.
He alleged that some Fulani men who went to recover some bodies under the escort of police men were turned back by the Bachama militia who chased away the policemen from Adamawa State Anti Robery Squard (SARS).
Sahabo noted as sad that up to now no arrest was made by the police.
“Information at the disposal of the council indicated that the district head of Numan, Mr Phineas Garba had earlier on summoned the Fulani Ardo in the presence of the village heads of Kikan and Shafaren and warned all the Fulanis to vacate the place they have been living for over 100 years.
“The village head of Kikan threatened that if the Fulanis failed to vacate, they will send their boys to forcefully eject them from the area. From all indications, this threat has been carried out,” Sahabo said.
He claimed that such action was unleashed on the Fulani Muslim community in the area in 2003 and 2004.
Sahabo reiterated the commitment of Muslim council to help in maintaining peace and peaceful coexistence among the diverse people of Adamawa and urged the state government and security agencies to always take decisive measures on elements engaged in creating fear and destruction in the state.
