Outrage Grows Over Yobe State Governor’s Indifference Amid Terror Attacks....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Intense criticism has enveloped Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, following his noticeable absence and apparent indifference towards the suffering of his constituents. This backlash intensified after a brutal attack by terrorists in Mafa, a community in the Tarmuwa Local Government Area, which resulted in the tragic loss of at least 81 lives.

The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility for the assault, asserting in a letter that the village was targeted for allegedly providing information to the military, leading to the deaths of its members. Despite the severity of this situation, Governor Buni chose not to visit the affected communities or express condolences to the grieving families.

Critics have pointed out that Buni’s governance style has largely been remote, operating from his Abuja residence since his election in 2019 and re-election in 2023. Residents express their frustration through WhatsApp groups, highlighting the disconnect between the governor and the community he is meant to serve.

“Instead of visiting the state, the governor staged a ridiculous visit to the chief of defence staff and shared the pictures before retreating back to Abuja,” said a resident from Damagum. This sentiment reflects a broader dissatisfaction with his administration, which has been marked by prolonged absences from Yobe State.

Reports indicate that even during brief visits, Buni often spends only a day or two in the state before returning to his Abuja home. The situation has worsened in the wake of devastating floods that have ravaged over 100 villages since early August, destroying critical infrastructure like the Jumbam bridge and leaving many homeless.

Residents have expressed their feelings of abandonment, with one anonymous local stating, “Yobe has been an abandoned state since, governed by a distant, disinterested, and incompetent governor.” Many flood victims now resort to begging and sheltering in dilapidated schools, while widows of Boko Haram victims from the Mafa attack are forced to sleep under trees around the emir’s palace in Babban Gida.

In response to the mounting criticism, the governor’s spokesperson, Mamman Mohammed, confirmed that Buni had not visited the state since the deadly attack. He noted that the governor had returned from Saudi Arabia on the same day as the incident, where he had been negotiating a deal with the Bank of Arabia. Mohammed explained that Buni had aimed to meet with the Chief of Defence Staff immediately upon his return, but the meeting only took place days later.

“The governor was represented by the deputy governor at the funeral of the victims, totaling 34 as confirmed by the military,” Mohammed stated, countering claims of higher casualty figures. He also mentioned that Buni ordered monetary support for the families of the deceased.