The Saudi Arabia Royal Embassy in Abuja has strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Yobe State.
The Yobe State Police Public Relations Officer, Dungus Abdulkarim, had said that gunmen believed to be Boko Haram insurgents attacked Mafa village in Tarmuwa Local Government Area, looting and burning shops and homes.
The police spokesperson said the attackers killed an unspecified number of people and left behind fliers with Arabic writing.
A letter found at the scene detailed the attackers’ motives, claiming the village had military connections.
Scores of residents in Mafa village of Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State had reportedly been killed by Boko Haram terrorists.
The incident occurred Monday, when the terrorists invaded the community.
Community sources told SaharaReporters on Tuesday morning that scores of bodies had been recovered and deposited in the hospitals while the search for the remaining victims was ongoing.
However, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) later claimed responsibility for the brutal attack that reportedly resulted in the deaths of 34 villagers.
ISWAP cited “revenge for alleged grievances” as their motive behind the massacre.
ISWAP, in a letter written in Arabic and released by the attackers, where it claimed responsibility for the assault, said that the village was targeted for allegedly providing information to the military, which led to the deaths of its members.
Reacting to the attack, the Saudi Arabian embassy in a statement on X condemned the attack, describing it as “treacherous.”
The embassy expressed the Kingdom’s strong opposition to violence and terrorism and extended their heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and the Nigerian government and people.
The statement read, “The Embassy expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s condemnation and denunciation of the treacherous terrorist attack that took place in Yobe State, northeastern Nigeria, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries.
“The Embassy reiterates the Kingdom’s complete rejection of violence, terrorism, and extremism. The Kingdom also expresses its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased and the government and people of Nigeria.”