Police in Borno State yesterday confirmed the death of eight persons including a female suicide bomber and her baby while 15 others sustained injuries when the suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) wrapped with her baby at the popular Mararaba ‘T’ Junction in Gwoza local government area of the state.
Speaking to our correspondent, the state’s police public relations officer, ASP Nahum Daso, said the female suicide bomber wrapped a baby at her back with the IED which she denoted at the busy junction, killing herself and the others.
“The suicide bomber wrapped a baby on her back with the IED and detonated it when people were accessing the popular Mararaba ‘T’ Junction. Eight persons including the suicide bomber and the baby died while 15 others sustained various degrees of injuries,” he said.
But reports elsewhere said the suicide attack was at a wedding ceremony in Gwoza.
A security source said on condition of anonymity that it was not clear whether the incident was from a bomb blast or a suicide bomber.
The source said, “We had twin blasts; the first occurred around Hausari and the second around Mararaba area where people sell bicycles and other items.”
Soldiers have reportedly taken over the streets of Gwoza.
Meanwhile, a counter-insurgency expert, ZagaZola Makama, said the attack occurred during a funeral.
In a post on his X handle, he wrote, “Another bomber who disguised as a mourner has detonated another explosive device in Gwoza LGA as the people were preparing for the funeral of the victims killed in an attack a few hours ago.
“The victims who were all civilians, were gathered to pay their respects to the deceased when the attack occurred. At least one additional person died while 16 others were injured and rushed to the hospital. Meanwhile a curfew has been announced in Gwoza by the military to enable them secure the town from any further threat.”
