Authorities in Borno State have apprehended two female suicide bombers in connection with the recent detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Gwoza, resulting in multiple casualties and fatalities.
According to a local government official, 30 female suicide bombers were dispatched to Gwoza to detonate IEDs at various locations, with only four successfully carrying out their attacks.
One of the arrested bombers, who came from the Pulka axis, panicked and detonated her IED at a military checkpoint, killing herself, a soldier, and a civilian JTF member.
The attack, which occurred at a wedding ceremony in Tashan Mararaba, near the Fire Service in Gwoza town, injured over 30 people, with degrees of injuries ranging from abdominal ruptures to skull and limb fractures.
The Director-General of SEMA, Barkindo Saidu, witnessed the first blast and reported that it affected over 30 persons, resulting in instant death and various levels of injuries.
“In my presence, at about 3 pm, the first bomb blast in Gwoza occurred, detonated by a female suicide bomber in the midst of the marriage ceremony celebration,” he said in a situation report.
“It affected more than 30 persons with various levels of injuries and instant death. Some minutes later, another blast occurred around General Hospital.”
As people gathered to bury those killed, a third bomber detonated another IED, causing numerous casualties. A fourth blast was later set off by a female teenager while emergency officials were coordinating the rescue mission at the hospital.
“So far, 18 deaths comprise children, adult males, females, and pregnant women. 19 seriously injured were conveyed to Maiduguri in four ambulances,” Saidu said. “At the time I released this situation report, 23 were waiting for military escort in the Medical Regimental Services (MRS) Clinic.”
The military has imposed a curfew in Gwoza LGA following the attacks, and the evacuation of the injured continued into the night with the SEMA DG coordinating the process.
