Gwoza - Borno: 18 Killed in Deadly Blast by Sucide Bomber

At least 18 people were killed and dozens injured following a series of blasts by suspected female suicide bombers in Gwoza, Borno State, northeastern Nigeria. The attacks targeted a wedding, a hospital, and a funeral on Saturday.

Key Details:

• Locations of Blasts: The town of Gwoza, near the Cameroon border.

• Timing: The first attack took place at about 3:45 pm local time.

• Attack Method: A woman with a baby on her back detonated an IED at a crowded motor park.

• Casualties: 18 deaths, including children, men, women, and pregnant women. Nineteen people were seriously injured and taken to Maiduguri, while 23 others awaited evacuation.

• Additional Attacks: A hospital was also targeted, and another blast occurred at the funeral for the wedding blast victims.

• Security Post Attack: Two militia members and a soldier were reportedly killed in a separate attack on a security post.

• No Immediate Claim of Responsibility: No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Background Context:

• Region: Borno State has been affected by a 15-year conflict involving Boko Haram and its splinter group, ISWAP.

• Historical Violence: In 2019, a triple suicide attack in the region resulted in 30 deaths. The conflict has killed over 40,000 people and displaced about two million in Nigeria’s northeast.

• Boko Haram: The group has a history of using young women and girls as suicide bombers. Gwoza was seized by Boko Haram in 2014 and reclaimed by Nigerian and Chadian forces in 2015, but the group continues to launch attacks.

Regional Impact:

• The violence has also spread to neighboring Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, leading to the formation of a regional military coalition to combat the armed groups.