As the news of the abducted worshippers in Zamfara makes waves, it is pertinent to remember a similar scenario that claimed Yakubu Fanami, a Borno-based student who foiled a mass suicide bombing during a Jumu’ah service in 2017.
According to reports, a female suicide bomber was heading toward the congregation on January 25, 2017. But the young Yakubu prevented her from gaining access to the mosque. However, the female suicide bomber detonated the explosive and bombed herself up with Yakubu. But other worshippers were saved. At that time, the deceased was in SS1 in a secondary at Kalare, Borno State.
READ: Boko Haram Kills 32 Borno Metal Hawkers
This bravery earned him posthumous unofficial heroism. Although could tell if his family was compensated.
Boko Haram’s unending reign
The Boko Haram menace has taken the lives of countless innocent Nigerians. According to an estimate published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), insurgency-related conflicts have claimed about 350,000 lives in the northeastern part of Nigeria up to the end of 2020.
The sect on December 24, 2003, carried out its first attack on police stations in Geiam and Kanamma in Yobe State, raising the flag of the Afghanistan Taliban.
Since then, the sect has proceeded to carry out numerous attacks across Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and the Niger Republic. In 2017 alone, the sect launched 90 armed assaults and 59 suicide attacks across Nigeria, claiming the lives of many innocent Nigerians and destroying properties worth millions of Naira.
While carrying out their numerous gun attacks and bombings, the insurgents also used suicide bombers, targeting public-dominated places, especially worship centres.
