9 Borno Villagers Killed In IED Explosion

A total of nine villagers were killed on Saturday by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) while waiting to board vehicles to their different destinations at a bus stop in Mairari Village in Guzamala local government area of Borno State.

Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan who confirmed the incident on Sunday, expressed deep shock over the killings by IEDs suspected to have been planted at the bus stop by Boko Haram terrorists.

The incident which occurred on Saturday at about 11am also left scores of villagers injured who were later evacuated to Monguno and Maiduguri for medical treatment.

Lawan also condoled with families of the deceased and those who sustained varying degree of injuries to the blast.

He prayed Allah to grant Aljanatul Firdaus to the souls of the deceased and wished the injured quick recovery.

The Speaker appealed to the military and other security agencies to recapture the entire Guzamala, especially Gudumbali, the local government headquarters, Mairari village and its environs, which he said have been deserted and under the control of Boko Haram without civil authority for many years.

Recall that Mairari village is about 18km drive from Monguno local government area and 119km away from Maiduguri, the state capital.

The agrarian village which was hitherto dislodged and resettled two times, is now a ghost community due to intensive and renewed Boko Haram attacks.

However, the villagers mostly resilient farmers who relocated to nearby Monguno and Gajiram towns for safety usually shuttle around the community to engage in their farming and hunting activities in daytime.

Residents often gather at a specific bus stop in Mairari to board commercial vehicles to Monguno, Gajiram or Maiduguri after their daily exercise.

Unfortunately, terrorists planted an IED at the bus stop which exploded and wreaked havoc by killing the victims amid other devastating impacts.

Speaker Lawan said, ”It is unfortunate that nine of my resilient constituents were killed by planted IED today (Saturday) while waiting to board vehicles at a local bus stop in Mairari village. May Allah grant their souls Aljanatul Firdaus. I also pray for quick recovery to those who were evacuated to Monguno and Maiduguri hospitals for treatment after the incident.

“You are aware that Mairari village which was hitherto the only village that was resettled two times with civil authority in the whole of Guzamala local government area has remained deserted again due to Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks.

“As resilient people, most of them who are taking refuge in Monguno, Guzamala and Maiduguri usually visits Mairari community and engaged in their farms.

“Unfortunately, some terrorists who have been monitoring their movement went and planted IED at their local bus stop which exploded while waiting to join commercial vehicles back to their area of abode.

”I know that the newly deployed Theatre Commander of North East ‘Operation Hadin Kai’, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar and his troops are doing well in the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP, let me reiterate my appeal for the military to take over the entire Guzamala local government area which has remained under Boko Haram territory, so as to restore civil authority”.