Several people, including a soldier and some wedding guests, were killed, and many others injured when four suicide bombers attacked various locations in Gwoza and Pulka towns, within Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.
Gwoza is situated 128 kilometers south of Maiduguri, the state capital.
In Gwoza, the first suicide bombing targeted a wedding reception in the Mararaba area.
Confirming the incident, Dr. Barkindo M. Saidu, Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), reported that 18 people were killed and 19 others were seriously injured in the attacks.
“So far, we have 18 deaths, comprising children, adult male, females, and pregnant women, while the 19 persons that are seriously injured were conveyed to Maiduguri in four ambulances,” he said.
The DG, who said he was on the spot in Gwoza, said the degree of injuries ranges from abdominal raptures, skull and limb fractures.
He said that the first suicide bomber detonated her explosive around 3:00pm, which affected over 30 wedding celebrants.
“Some minutes later, another blast occurred around General Hospital at the funeral services when another lady rushed onto the congregation and detonated another bomb with a lot of casualties.
“We were in the hospital coordinating the rescue mission, and another one exploded from a female teenager,” he said.
He also confirmed receiving a report that there was a suspected suicide bombing in Pulka town, also in Gwoza LGA, but did not give further details.
A resident said: “It was a black day in Gwoza…The first woman came to a wedding reception while pretending to be looking for food. She ensured that she was in midst of the wedding reception before she detonated the explosive devices wrapped around her wrist.”
While some sources said the woman had a baby tied to her back, others said it was the bomb she concealed that was mistaken as a child.
According to the groom’s friend, eight people died instantly and many others were rushed to the hospital alongside a soldier and two civilians.
“The second incident was while people in the grieving community were trying to bury the dead,” another source said.
“The suicide bomber, who disguised as a mourner, detonated the improvised explosive device, which killed some people.
“According to the update received, over 10 persons were killed with several others injured”, the source said.
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