The Borno State Police Command has confirmed eight persons, including a female suicide bomber and her baby dead, while 15 others sustained various degrees of injuries when the suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) wrapped with her baby at a popular Mararraba ‘T’ Junction in Gwoza local government area of the State.
Confirming the incident, which occurred on Saturday, to our correspondent, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Nahum Daso, said the female suicide bomber wrapped a baby at her back with the IED which she denoted at the busy Junction thereby killing and injuring the victims.
“The suicide bomber wrapped a baby on her back with the IED and detonated it when people were accessing the popular Mararaba ‘T’ Junction on Saturday in Gwoza town on Saturday, the 29 of June. Eight persons, including the suicide bomber and the baby died while 15 others sustained various degrees of injuries,” the PPRO.
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Meanwhile, reports in various media spaces said the suicide attack was at a wedding ceremony in Gwoza local government area of Borno state.
But, a security source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it was not clear whether the incident was from a bomb blast or suicide bomber.
The source said, “We had twin blasts today; the first occurred around Hausari and the second around Mararaba area where people sell bicycles and 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 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 sanitise the town from any further threat.”
