Nine Feared Dead in Borno IED Blast, Lawmaker Calls for Military Action

At least nine people are feared dead following a bomb explosion caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at a bus stop in Mairari village, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State. The tragic incident occurred on Sunday as residents waited to board vehicles.

Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, confirmed the incident and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. He noted that several others sustained injuries and were promptly evacuated to nearby hospitals for treatment.

“It is unfortunate that nine of my resilient constituents were killed by planted IEDs today while waiting to board vehicles at a local bus stop in Mairari village. May Allah grant their souls Aljanatul Firdaus,” Lawan stated.

Mairari village has been the only community in Guzamala LGA to be resettled twice under civil authority, but it has again been deserted following repeated attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents.

Lawan explained that despite the ongoing threats, many displaced residents who now take refuge in Monguno, Guzamala, and Maiduguri continue to return to Mairari to tend to their farms. He said terrorists, having monitored their movements, planted the explosives at the bus stop, which detonated as people gathered to travel.

Calling the attack inhumane, Lawan urged the military to intensify operations in the area. He acknowledged the efforts of the newly deployed Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, and his troops, but reiterated the need for full military takeover of Guzamala to restore civil governance.

The state has witnessed persistent insecurity, with repeated attacks disrupting resettlement efforts and endangering the lives of returning residents.