Explosion Claims Lives of Civilian Joint Task Force Members in Borno State
By Matthew Eloyi
Tragedy struck in Mafa town, Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, as two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) lost their lives while eight others sustained injuries in an improvised explosive device (IED) incident on Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses in Maiduguri recounted that the unfortunate event occurred during the CJTF’s routine operations along the Mafa/Konduga LG axis, where their vehicle drove over a suspected IED planted by Boko Haram terrorists.
An official from the CJTF in Maiduguri confirmed, “It happened around 4 pm when the CJTF members were out on their routine operation driving in their vehicle through a bush path between Mafa and Konduga.”
Two CJTF members succumbed to the blast, and the injured were swiftly transported to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
The Chairman of Mafa Local Government, Goni Gonibe, expressed sorrow over the incident, labelling it “a great loss to the fight against insecurity in the state.” The deceased CJTF members were laid to rest in Mafa town immediately on Tuesday, following Islamic rites.
The burial ceremony witnessed the presence of local government officials, including the LGA Chairman, the representative of Mafa at the State House of Assembly, and high-ranking military officers from the Operation Hadin Kai Theater Command.
After the burial, Chairman Gonibe, accompanied by his delegation and sympathizers, visited the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital to extend condolences to the injured CJTF members. The chairman assured the families of the injured of proper medical care and support during their recovery.
